Sailor crowned Champion of Champions

A member of Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club won a Champion of Champions race last week.

24-year-old Stuart Bithell triumphed in the 50th Endeavour Trophy Champion of Champions event at Burnham-on-Crouch with fellow crew member Christian Birrel, 21.
The annual race brings together 30 national champions of different classes to compete against each other in identical two-person boats over three days.

The two young sailors qualified for the event, which ran from 1 to 3 October, by comfortably winning the Merlin Rocket National Championships at Penzance in August.
The pair put together a series of consistent results in strong winds of up to 28 knots to take the top spot.

Mr Bithell said: “We were pleased that we were able to sail well in both the light and heavy winds.”

The winning crew were rewarded with the solid silver Endeavour Trophy, a £1,000 Musto voucher and an invitation to race at the Bitter End Pro Am Regatta in the British Virgin Islands.

Following his successful summer Mr Bithell, who is a member of the RYA Skandia Team GBR 470 Performance Squad, now returns to campaigning for a place in the 2012 Olympic Games with helm Luke Patience.