September 2018 saw OWs and current school sailors gather for the first Annual OW and MCS 2-boat Team Racing event. Joe Gough and Nick Upton (2013) were eventually named the winners.OW Tom Daggitt (2015) wrote this for the Waynflete Office:

A group of 20 OW and MCS sailors gathered on a bright, blowy morning at Farmoor reservoir.

They were there to compete for undecided prizes with untested teams, at the MCS OW 2 Boat Championships. Some had returned after several years way from the sailing scene to test their mettle in the high winds against some of the University and School circuits’ most accomplished team racers.

The standard of racing was high, and not a single race was left uncontested. Exhausted and wind-battered competitors were recharged between races by a slightly chaotic barbecue on the slipway beside the lake, with a strange side dish of pickle and peanut butter sandwiches.

MCS sailing coach James Unwin made his dramatic appearance with family in tow shortly before the final race of the day, lending the competition a much-needed air of legitimacy.

At the end of a hard day’s racing, OW pair Joe Gough and Nick Upton were crowned the victors.

This event hopefully marked a resurgence in OW sailing, as the competitors showed great interest in sailing under the OW banner in other prestigious events around the country and trying their luck against universities and other school’s alumni teams.

To get involved with OW sailing, please contact Waynflete Office (waynfleteoffice@mcsoxford.org).