This year's Nick Turner Generations' Cup was held on Saturday 21 September 2024 at Bough Beech. We normally hold this event in the summer term, but the weather conspired against us in June with a flat calm and no sailing possible, so it was postponed to the reserve date in September. The weather on Saturday was unexpectedly dry and clear and the winds were light but consistent, making for good racing conditions.

5 OTs turned up to race - enough to make a team with some help - including the very experienced Alex Barone, who races internationally in the foiling single-hander Moth dinghies and David Jackson, who races with the Royal Navy. Following some quick fire, boat-swapping warm-up races, the OTs were able to reacquaint themselves with the Tonbridge Firefly dinghies - the ones where the self-bailers work and the ones where they don't - and to establish the final line-up.

With 3-on-3 match racing in Fireflies the OTs needed one extra person, and Anton Chernyshov, a current Tonbridgian, crewed for the OTs. The best-of-3-races match was closely fought and there were some pulsating tactical battles around the marks from both teams. In the end the greater experience of the OTs clinched victory, taking the series 2-0 and carrying home the trophy for another year.

And then it was back to the clubhouse for the presentation of the trophy, cake to celebrate Pietro's birthday and a few drinks in The Little Brown Jug. An excellent end to an excellent afternoon.

The September date for this match confers a small disadvantage on the school as the boys have had less time through the school year to practise and gel as a team, so we plan to return this fixture to its usual May/June weekend in 2025. We hope even more OTs can join us in 2025.

Thank you very much to Jonny for organising and hosting the racing, and providing the cake. And thank you to the OTs, who came to support the match.