The BUSA Student Yachting Nationals organised by British Universities Sailing Association and the University of Portsmouth in association with virginstudents.com got off to a flying start yesterday (Tuesday) morning in the superb setting of Plymouth Sound.

Eighteen One-design Sunsail Sunfast 36s from 15 universities totalling 144 competitors are competing to win a place in the Student World Championships. The windward/leeward course laid down by Plym’s Yacht Club Mike Pearson proved to be challenging in the light conditions.

With past competitors, such as Nik Pearson (GBR Challenge) and Hugh Styles (Youth Match Racing Champion and Sydney Olympics 2000), this year’s teams have a lot to live up to, but if the first day’s racing is anything to go by they are certainly holding there own!

More round the can races are planned for for today followed by a long offshore race on Thursday.

After one day and four races the results are as follows:

Results (after day one, four races)

1st Southampton University, Trevor Child (Skipper) – 5 pts

2nd equal Southampton Institute 2, Michael Henning (Skipper) – 7 pts

2nd equal Plymouth Boathow.com, Sam Stevens (Skipper) – 7 pts

4th Southampton Institute 1, Glen Ward (Skipper) – 8 pts

Race One

Southampton University, Trevor Child (Skipper)

Southampton Institute 1, Glen Ward (Skipper)

Strathclyde University, Ruairidh Scott (Skipper)

Race Two

Plymouth boathow.com, Sam Stevens (Skipper)

Southampton Institute 2, Michael Henning (Skipper)

Southampton University, Trevor Child (Skipper)

Race Three

Southampton University, Trevor Child (Skipper)

Plymouth boathow.com, Sam Stevens (Skipper)

Strathclyde University, Ruairidh Scott (Skipper)

Race Four

Southampton Institute 2, Michael Henning (Skipper)

Southampton Institute 1, Glen Ward (Skipper)

Southampton University, Trevor Child (Skipper)