NATIONAL championship pride was restored to Thorpe Bay Yacht Club as the organisation successfully staged one of the largest UK junior sailing regattas.

A total of 92 boats, nearly 200 young racers aged under 16, plus more than 150 supporting parents, coaches and family members were in town for the four-day RS Feva class event which settled national gold and silver fleet titles.

In the gold fleet Hayling Island sailors Elliott Wells and Jake Todd were the overall winners with a string of first and second places giving them the boost they needed.

And in the silver fleet Cameron and Euan Harris, from Suffolk’s Alton Water SC’s were crowned champions.

Thorpe Bay YC commodore, Nick Elmore – who has been a member at the club for more than 35 years – said he was delighted with the way the Sekonda-sponsored regatta had gone.

“It was the biggest junior event we had ever staged at Thorpe Bay,” he said.

“It’s a huge boost for the club and the town as well and it reminded me of years ago when there were big national racing events at Thorpe Bay — and even back to the Little America’s Cup races.

“It’s true that we had all sorts of weather, but our plans held up well.

“The council helped out by allowing us to use the car park and grounds for camping and all the trailers and boats.

“And catering for almost 350 people every day was a huge job but all our volunteers did brilliantly.

“As commodore, I’ve been keen to see the club run a lot more youth racing and they don’t get too much bigger than this,” he added.

And now the club is looking forward to its open regatta event on the weekend of June 22 and 23, and a big catamaran open meeting later in the season.

Local results: Silver fleet: 23rd Vicky Little and Millie Little (all TBYC), 29th Harry Boygle and Olivia Petty-Mayor, 34th Samuel Laliberte and Jacob Allard, 36th Sophie Boygle and Genevieve Bailey. Gold: 34th Jourdan Swindon and Edward Elmore.