This year we have planned more training sessions for improver sailors.  The dates are in the training section of the website and the first one is this Saturday 22nd May.   Last year our youth coordinator Clive Harries, with the support of our training officer Erica Caswell, Pete Robinson an RYA coach and others, organised several of these sessions to run on Saturday afternoons following the morning GYBE sessions for beginners.  They were aimed at youth mainly but some adults joined in so we thought this year we would try to accommodate all ages this year.  Please let Clive know if you would like to take part.  There will be a limited number of club boats available with occasional additional Picos when Bewerly Park are able to lend us theirs.  The use of these boats will rely heavily on sailors and parents of sailors helping to prepare them ready for sailing and helping pack them away.  Having your own boat is the ideal of course and Clive was delighted to see so many youth getting boats last year.'

These sessions are aimed at both young people and adults who have done some sailing but wish to improve their skills and confidence levels.  Support and tuition will be available with the aim of helping participants to become competent and confident, independent sailors. These sessions will be led by Peter Robinson, the Regional RYA Club Coach and supported by other club volunteers.

Sessions will take place on the following 6 Saturday afternoons:

Sat. 22nd May

Sat 19th June

Sat 17th July

Sat 24th July

Sat 28th Aug

Sat 9th Oct

These follow on from the Saturday morning GYBE/YDSC morning training sessions.  Members can either use their own boats or borrow club boats (subject to availability). Gybe boats will not be available on 22nd May, or 17th July  but may be available on  the other 4 Saturdays.

Please contact  Peter Robinson  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or Clive for more info or to let them know you are coming.

On the 26/27^th of September seven of our youth members attended the annual North Zone championships at Burton sailing club.Some were trying to qualify for zone squad (Callum Escritt, Hugh Simpson, Chris Towers) some had already qualified for other squads (Hector Simpson National Squad), (Luke Cowling Junior Development Squad), (Matt and Ben Lulham-Robinson National Squad)

42 Topper and 9 Mirror sailors attended making it the hardest year yet to qualify, so nerves were jangling (mainly the parents).

TOPPERS

Race 1 started in a good force 2 to 3 and the lightweights were soon to the front, Chris Towers had exceptional speed and stormed away to win by a long distance. Hector Simpson who likes a bit more breeze hung on for a 6^th, Callum Escritt had a great start to the event posting an 18^th.

Race 2 was a repeat of race 1 Chris won by even further with Hector 6^th, Luke Cowling improved to post a 14^th.

Race 3 and the wind dropped and the course became very uneven, this taxed the more inexperienced (Callum 26^th) but the usual suspects came to the front with Hector taking a bullet and Chris in second Luke improved further posting a 12^th.

After the racing Nick Rodgers (470 double Olympic silver medalist) gave a talk and answered questions like “what qualifications did you get at school”, “Not many I just sailed”, what fitness work do you do”, “none I just sail”, some of the parents were seen to be covering their kids ears!

Sunday dawned windless but by 11am racing was able to be started in a patchy force 1. Chris got back to winning ways and Hector was also building a great series with a 2^nd, Luke 13^th, Hugh 31^stand Callum 38^th.

Race 5 and Chris sealed the overall win by placing 3^rd behind Hector 1^st, Luke 24^th, Hugh 31^st and Callum 35^th.

Lunch was taken with people being seen with calculators working out the qualifying positions.

Although Chris had already won the event and much to his credit he sailed the last race placing 2^nd Hector 4^th,Luke 22^nd ,   and Callum coming back from the dead to finish 24^th.

OVERALL

Chris Towers                         1^st            Zone Squad

Hector Simpson               2^nd               National Squad

Luke Cowling                       16^th              Junior Development Squad

Callum Escritt                       27^th               Zone Squad

Hugh Simpson                      36^th

MIRRORS 

Matthew and Ben dominated the event from start to finish winning 4 and second in the others, they also got a prize from Nick Rodgers, as he was amazed at the fact they use “homemade” sails. 

Overall it was a fantastic success and we can now boast of having some the best Youth sailors in our region.

Another great attendance from eight YDSC Topper sailors at this years Inland Championships held at Grafham Water on the 2nd and 3rd May. This was a large event attended by 275 sailors from around the UK - see the Y&Y report.  Hector Simpson reveled in the high winds on Sunday to take 32nd place and Sam Towers who is a very consistent performer in 40th.  Sam's younger brother Chris finished 122nd.  In the 4.2 class National Championship held in parallel Callum Escritt just pipped Hugh Simpson by one place finishing 11th.  Jonathan Harries attended his first major event and placed 10th in the regatta fleet.  Some great results in what must be one of the most competitive fleets in the country.