Ed Nash writes:

The annual Arrow Trophy 2025 came around, and unlike previous years, there seemed to be real anticipation from the crew. With the weather charts building up to the weekend and the imminent arrival of Storm Amy, there was plenty of uncertainty about what sailing we’d actually get to do.

Once the crew was given the go-ahead, they headed down to the Hamble and boarded this year’s boat, Faux Pas. Some of the team enjoyed the traditional Thursday night steak dinner while catching up on what everyone had been up to over the past year.

On Friday, the remainder of the crew joined, and the plan was to get in some good practice ahead of the weekend. However, this session was cut short due to the incoming bad weather, with rain and gusts of up to 40 knots. Although the conditions were challenging, they didn’t dampen spirits, and the practice gave everyone a boost heading into the weekend.

With the early finish, we headed into Cowes to moor up and, as it turned out, this would be home for the next 36 hours. Saturday’s racing was cancelled due to the extreme winds. Once settled in the marina and as Storm Amy began to show her strength, the crew and the fantastic Old Pangbournian Yacht Club support team enjoyed their annual Italian dinner at Toni’s. Taking over half the restaurant, it was a lively evening of pizza, wine, and catching up.

Unlike most Saturday mornings when the crew is up early for racing, this time Storm Amy gifted everyone a relaxed start. The sound of the masts chiming in the wind set the tone for a slow morning. Various team members explored the island in their own ways, some over coffee and a chat, others hunting for treasures in the local chandlery.

As evening came around, all the OPs gathered for drinks and nibbles aboard Dulce Vita, where Jeremy and Katie’s hospitality was very much appreciated. Conversation centred less on race tactics and more on which pubs had been discovered during the day off! While the support crew continued their conversations into the night, the racing crew headed to the Royal Ocean Racing Club for dinner with the other schools. Tales were told, and the OPs were on their best behaviour — unlike some of the other crews!

After a relatively early Saturday night with a nightcap at The Anchor, where we unexpectedly bumped into a non-sailing OP and the good news that racing would go ahead on Sunday, the crew was eager to get going. With the sun shimmering on the water, a beautiful day of sailing lay ahead. Unfortunately, we were one crew member down due to the weather, but Paul worked his charm with the Shrewsbury team and managed to secure a loaned Salopian named Harry — an excellent addition, as we later discovered his CV included rowing across the Atlantic in just fifty days!

Sunday brought three out-and-back races, and the crew gelled together brilliantly. James Minter took the helm, steering us ahead of the pack, with Patrick Roberts as first mate, calmly and confidently directing the team. Due to the gusty wind, no kites were flown, so Rohan Batra and Charlie Allen managed the mainsail, while Paul Tarantino, Tom Bendall, Harry (from Shrewsbury), and Ed Nash manned the winches, trimming the genoa and keeping the boat perfectly balanced for maximum speed.

The OP crew improved with each race, finishing third, then second, and securing an overall third place in the Fairview fleet, seven places ahead of Shrewsbury! The highlight of the day, however, was watching Cranleigh plough straight into the marshal’s boat at the start of a race, leaving everyone a little shell-shocked!

All in all, it was another successful Arrow Trophy weekend. Pangbourne sailing continues to improve year on year, and having so many OPs and their partners gather for the event is always a real treat.

A huge thank-you to James Minter for organising the crew — and who knows, maybe there’s some silverware waiting for us in 2026!