2017

NEWSLETTER

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S T A N D R E W S S A I L I N G C L U B

COMMODOREmessage from the

Performance 

 This semester has arguably been our most successful ever, will USASC picking up both Scottish Student

Sailing (SSS) gold medals on offer. Stand out achievements, to name a few, include 1st place at the SSS

Match Racing Championships, 1st place at the SSS Ladies Team Racing Championships, as well as

individual success with selection to SSS National and SSS Ladies National Squads.

 Following the usual warm-up event to the season, the Glasgow Grouse, our three dinghy teams have

enjoyed great successes this semester. After the opening weekend, the 1st Dinghy Team are currently

sitting in a strong 5th place out of a record 23 teams in the SSS Team Racing League, qualifying for

Platinum League. They will most certainly be looking to use this as a springboard to BUCS/BUSA Finals

qualification over the final two League Weekends, at the beginning of next semester. Great results were

also posted by the 2nd team (10th place) and 3rd team (17th place), who are currently sitting in Gold and

Silver League qualification spots respectively, testament to the excellent coaching of Henry Cross (USASC

Race Captain) and hard work everyone is putting into the weekly on-the-water training sessions at Loch

Ore.

 On the back of her success as a helm in the Dinghy 1st team with crew Lizzie Bakewell (4th year), Emily

Hill (1st year) has been selected for the SSS National Squad, competing for Scotland at the Angel of the

North team racing event in Durham, a fantastic achievement given the calibre of applicants. This was

also the first year USASC competed at SSS Ladies Team Racing Championships, which proved a huge

success, with the Ladies Team victorious in Aberdeen in their debut competition. The impressive result

prompted Emily Hill to be selected as a helm for the SSS Ladies National Squad, which will compete next

semester in a variety of national events.

University of St Andrews Sailing Club End of Semester Report 2017Semester 1

Under the leadership of Alex Carter (USASC Yacht Captain), the yacht team has gone from strength to

strength this semester, with a record 12 sailors now involved with the team. With the increased numbers, a

development team has been successfully introduced, allowing the 1st team to train with more people, and

even competing themselves at the Cameron Trophy. The 1st team built on their success from last year in

this event where they had to settle for joint 1st place, to win outright for the first time at the SSS Match

Racing Championships in Helensburgh. This was a tremendous achievement by those involved,

particularly considering our yacht team is still in its infancy relative to other more established Scottish

University yachting teams. As a result, helm Balazs Gesce (2nd year) and crew have qualified for the

BUCS/BUSA National Match Racing Championships and will be looking to replicate their success in

Scotland at a National level in April.  

Trips, Events and Recreational Sport

 Our success on the water has been matched by some excellent weekly socials, diligently organised by

Hector Mckemey and Freddie Wall (USASC Social Secretaries), with a highly successful Fresher’s Week

Garden Party, as well as traditional socials such as the Three-Legged Flat Crawl. Christmas Dinner was

once again held at St Andrews Sailing Club, where a sold out congregation of 32 sailors enjoyed a

homemade Christmas dinner and festivities.

 Back in Fresher’s week, the club held its usual Give-It-A-Go sessions off East Sands, with huge numbers of

students turning up wanting to find their sea-legs. Many have since become members, enjoying Sunday

afternoon recreational sailing from St Andrews Sailing Club, allowing members to improve their sailing

skills with our more experienced sailors on-board for guidance. However, the highlight of the semester for

beginners was certainly our annual trip to Galloway. Under the imperious stewardship of India Daniels

(USASC Training Officer), 20 members travelled West to the Galloway Activity Centre in Dumfries and

Galloway, enjoying a fantastic weekend learning the basics of sailing.  

Governance and Administration

 The club held an EGM in October to vote in a First Year Representative and Cruising Officer, in addition to

a Bosun. After an unprecedented number of members ran for the various roles, the positions were won by

Emily Hill, Connor Lurring and Will Adams respectively. The committee has done an incredible job this

semester, with a special mention to Lizzie Bakewell (USASC Treasurer) and Lottie Garton (USASC Secretary)

for helping at every opportunity.

 Finally, hopefully everyone has also seen our tremendous new website organised by Kirsty Rogers (USASC

Development Officer). It is a great place to find out more about what the club has been up to with up-to-

date blog posts, as well as sponsorship opportunities. After such a successful 2017, the club is in a great

shape and looking forward to what 2018 has instore! 

Many thanks,

 Ollie Reiff-Musgrove (USASC Commodore) 

JULIA SCOTT

alumni stories

What have I been up to?

 The year after graduating from St Andrews I did a Masters in Medical Physics at Glasgow University

(2015-2016). I now live in Glasgow and work for the NHS as a clinical scientist – a bit of physics with a

roaring side trade in googling medical terms.  

 Done any sailing?

 I captained the yacht team at Glasgow Sailing Club during my Masters year. Their tentative acceptance

of Julia ‘Yacht’ from St Andrews indicated their belief was that I may have been some sort of spy. Now I

try and sail when I can, which given the demographic of yachting outside of university, is often in the

company of the older man.

 julia.c.scott@btinternet.com  

Hi sailors, I miss you all!

I’m now living in sunny Perth, Australia, commonly known as beach, snorkelling, camping and, of

course, sailing HEAVEN (…and possibly a shark haven, though this is yet to be substantiated).

 Twice a week I work the foredeck and winches on a S80 (7 metre yacht with full rig + spinnaker) on the

Swan River – and afterwards, in true SUSA style, there’s a drink at the bar. There’s no capsizing

anymore, but I did fall off once during a jibe on a particularly blustery afternoon… On a typical day the

sun is blazing in all its 30-degree glory and dolphins swim past. It’s a far cry from the frozen shores of

Loch Ore!

 Sometimes I actually study for my Law degree; every holiday we’re off camping or road tripping (these

tend to go hand-in-hand). Let me know if you think you’ll be passing by – there’ll be a bed waiting. 

a.thomson@gmx.de

alumni stories

ANNEKA THOMSON 

2017 photos

 loch ore training 

SSS LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP- NOV 2017 

SSS Match Racing Championships -

OCT 2017 

GALLOWAY- OCT 2017 

GALLOWAY- OCT 2017 

SSS Match Racing

Championships -

OCT 2017 

SSS CHAMPS- FERNIE CASTLE CEILIDH- APRIL 2017 

SSS CHAMPS-HOSTED BY ST ANDREWS AT

LOCH ORE- APRIL 2017 

CRUISING TRIP- CROATIA- MAY 2017  

CRUISING TRIP- CROATIA- MAY 2017  

Website: http://univeristyofstandrewssailingclub.weebly.com Email: sailing@saints-sport.com

Facebook: @UStASailing Instagram: @SaintAndrewsSailing

Governing Body: Royal Yachting Association 

If you wish to donate to the Sailing Club, please use the link below to access the University's gift page. 

https://sparc.st-andrews.ac.uk/giving/sports/sports-clubs

sponsorship opportunities 

please contact Kirsty at kr56@st-andrews.ac.uk for more

information

PLEASE EMAIL US TO BE AN ALUMNI STORY NEXT YEAR. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM

YOU! 

sailing@saints-sport.com