MEMBERS of Whitstable Yacht Club spent Friday evening congratulating a catamaran crew who have returned to the town after winning a world championship

Dan Norman and Melanie Rogers took on the some of the top names in the Dart 18 Catamaran class and emerged triumphant after a hard fought series sailed on Italy’s Lake Garda.

Although the club has had members who have won national championships, and represented Great Britain at an Olympic Regatta, this is the first time it has had a world champion crew in its 105 year history.

Club commodore Maureen Bush said it was a fantastic achievement which had put Whitstable, Canterbury and Kent on the world sailing map.

"Mel and Dan have only sailed together for short amount of time, yet they beat a 122 strong fleet from from Italy, Portugal, South Africa and Holland to name but a few."