Paul Campbell-James from Southampton University, together with his four-man crew, left the competition standing last weekend in a runaway win at the British Universities sailing Association National Match Racing Finals at Rutland Water.

The full-time student was able to bask in the glory which must surely compensate for his painful loss at the Youth World Match Racing Championships held at the beginning of the year in New Zealand.

Campbell-James is rated as one of this country's top young match racers and so it was no great surprise to see that his Southampton Team 1 overturned Exeter University in the finals. However, it was no walk in the park for the young C-J and crew of Ben Field, Dave Newey, Hamish Walker and Dave Steed.

Eighteen teams competed at Rutland Water at the weekend in the Beneteau First Class Eights. The teams were split into three groups and Campbell-James, in group B, immediately moved in for the jugular winning all of his races ahead of Oxford in second.

In group C, Southampton 2 followed suit and matched their fellow scholars, winning each of their races.

In a best of three final, Exeter University sailed well to win the first race. Campbell-James fought back and won the second race to take it to the wire.

A premature start from team Exeter gave Southampton 1 the opener. Yet not detracting from his experience acquired through sailing on the international match race circuit, Campbell-James's talent shone through and the crew worked like a well-oiled machine. They took the last race and with it the Championship title.

As a result both Southampton and Exeter have secured their places in the RYA National Match Racing Finals which take place from September 26-28 at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.

Paul Campbell-James will be back on the race circuit next week when the BUSA Yachting National Championships head for Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Harbour. Starting on Monday the championships will be contested on 30 identical Sunsail Sunfast 37s with racing taking place over four days.

With good space for berthing, proximity of the Solent, a host of waterfront bars and restaurants, plenty of entertainment ashore for the crews to enjoy and an array of designer outlet shops to whet even a student's appetite, Gunwharf Quay will certainly make a good host venue.

Several of the waterfront restaurants are opening early for breakfast, having special student happy hours and generally getting into the spirit of the regatta.