The main event in the Cambridge University Yacht Racing Team's Calendar is the BUCS/BUSA Yachting Nationals. The event is held in the vacation between Lent and Easter terms at Port Solent. This event sees all the best university crews from all over the country come together for 4 days of intense inshore racing. The racing currently takes place on Sunsail Beneteau F40s.
After setting up the racing squad in 2003, we decided to challenge Oxford to a varsity race having met them at BUSA that year. The first race took place in the Solent on Sigma 38s on Sunday the 30th of November 2003 and was organised by Tim Houghton (Cambridge) and Jacqui Catherall (Oxford).
The race was conducted as part of the Hamble Winter Series because neither club had the resources to organise an event itself. It was also felt that fleet racing was most appropriate for the yacht race, as that was the type of racing both teams were competing in. Oxford won after a good performance in drizzle, rain, and fog, but the event had been established and has been raced every year since.
The race is normally run just before BUSA and after the end of Lent term, in order to give both teams time to train up some of their new intake and get a bit more training before BUSA. The racing normally takes place during a Sunsail regatta weekend, but entering other races, such alternating between the Fastnet and Cork or Cowes Week has been mooted for the future if funding can be found. The CUCrC donated a cup, which is awarded to the winner each year (see picture).
Year | Winner | ![]() |
2021 | Oxford | |
2020 | No Race (COVID-19 pandemic) | |
2019 | Cambridge | |
2018 | Oxford | |
2017 | Cambridge | |
2016 | Oxford | |
2015 | Cambridge | |
2014 | Cambridge | |
2013 | Cambridge | |
2012 | Oxford | |
2011 | Oxford | |
2010 | Cambridge | |
2009 | Oxford | |
2008 | Cambridge | |
2007 | Oxford | |
2006 | Oxford | |
2005 | Cambridge | |
2004 | Oxford |
In 2022 we will be entering a race-ready First 40 in several of the UK-based Royal Ocean Racing Club races.
The provisional 2022 RORC Race Programme can be found here: http://www.rorc.org/racing/race-programme/2021-race-programme
International Top Universities Regatta, Qingdao, China - 2017 (1st place), 2018 (1st place), 2019 (3rd place)
Student Yachting World Cup 2015 (4th place)