STUDENTS from Winchester's Peter Symonds' College crew were delighted with their fifth place in class and highest placed English entry in the Cutty Sark Tall ships Race, which ended recently at Portsmouth.

Organised by the International Sail Training Association, the race enables young people from all over the world to share the challenge of life at sea. Some 5,300 youngsters from 15 countries were involved this year. The Peter Symonds' crew was once again organised by tutor Kathy Claydon, who sailed as First Mate.

The team joined TS Ocean Scout in La Coruna, northern Spain, and were soon experiencing the international flavour of the event, being invited to climb the main mast of the Russian square Rigger Mir some 50 metres high.

They left Spain in triumphant style, taking their place in the parade of sail; Ocean Scout at 15 metres being dwarfed by many of the Class A ships. Nonetheless they were first to cross the start line in their class, down to cleverly planned tactics and cool nerve as well as a great deal of hard work by all.

There then followed six days and seven nights at sea, during which highlights included visits from dolphins and a pod of whales! The weather started light, but soon blew up to the kind of conditions for which the Bay of Biscay is infamous.

Despite losing the No. 1 genoa and breaking the inner forestay, the team struggled on to make their waypoint at the entrance to the English Channel. From there it was a close race to the finish off the Isle of Wight, with a good tide and wind astern, leading to the record speed of 12 knots.