West Kirby, U.K.- Head Roger Williams Sailing Coach Amanda Callahan and her teammates on the New York Yacht Club team Silver Panda took first place out of 32 teams at the British Open Team Racing Championships over the weekend.  It was the second straight victory for Silver Panda, having also claimed the coveted Wilson Trophy in 2007.

Sailing Fireflies, twelve-foot two-person dinghies, Silver Panda amassed a 10-2 record in the opening Swiss League rounds, qualifying the team for the elimination rounds.  In Quarter-Final action, Silver Panda defeated Royal Thames, 2-0, and then moved on to take a 2-1 win over the West Kirby Hawks in Semi-Final races.

The Finals pitted Silver Panda against the Larchmont Yacht Club, also of the U.S.  Silver Panda was dominant, sweeping the first three races in a best-of-five final to take the overall title.

Considered the most prestigious event in team racing, the Wilson Trophy was started in 1947 and is hosted by the West Kirby Sailing Club.  Teams sail three identical Fireflies with color-coded sails, making the race a true test of the sailors' abilities.  This year's 59th Wilson Trophy included sailors representing the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and the U.S.