Chris and Nikki Catt, who team beat off 42 rivals to win the prestigious Men of Kent Trophy in a three race series at Whitstable

A brother and sister sailing team beat off 42 rivals to win the prestigious Men of Kent Trophy in a three-race series at Whitstable on Sunday.

Chris and Nikki Catt, who have been sailing under the burgee of Down Sailing Club, Deal, for longer than they can remember, took their RS 200 dinghy over the line in fourth and first position in the two races before lunch and put another four points to their total in the final event.

Second place went to Whitstable’s YC’s John Cooper and Sophie Mackley in a Merlin Rocket, with John and James Bennet from Herne Bay SC, one point behind taking the third position.

The event – which is sponsored by the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men and held at different venues throughout the counter every year – is one of the highlights of the county’s water sports programme with the winners collecting a large silver trophy.

This year saw a fleet made up from single handed Lasers and Toppers to asymmetric dinghies and catamarans, representing most of the county’s sailing clubs.

The first two races took place in a Force 2 to 3 easterly wind blowing over an incoming tide but things changed when the tide changed and the wind dropped away leaving competitors trying to avoid being swept over the starting line.

The race committee got the fleet away on the second attempt but several were disqualified for jumping the gun.