NSSA Inland Championships at Oxford Sailing Club
by Chris Lowe 30 May 2011 08:04 BST
28-29 May 2011
The 2011 NSSA Inland Championships went ahead over the 28th and 29th of May at Farmoor Reservoir. The event was organised by volunteers at Oxford District School Sailing Association and attracted teams from all over the country. Plymouth, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire were particularly we represented along with a number of individual entries.
Day 1
Thought of the day – REEF! Once again the event was extremely well attended allowing the organiser to race Topper, Laser Radial, Handicap and a Rookie Fleet. The first day of racing had some challenging conditions but thanks to the Principle Race Officer, Nigel Vick and some perfect timing, all fleets headed out for some extremely competitive racing. The gusty conditions not only gave the competitors a work out but also the safety crews who were kept busy recovering the capsized boats.
The main fleets managed to complete three races and the inclusive “Rookie” fleet designed to give youngsters a regatta taster, managed to get two races in on a smaller and sheltered race course.
In the Topper fleet Bella Fellows from Plymouth was able to create a strong lead from the outside which she held on to getting a 1st and two 2nd Places in the bag. Over on the Laser Radial fleet Joe Simmons in his Laser Radial also was following Bella’s example and notched up an impressive 1st, 1st and a 2nd place. Daniel Wigmore was on even more of a role in his Laser 4.7 in the Handicap Fleet notching up three consecutive 1st places by the end of day one.
On the Rookie fleet Lucy Greenwood from New Hall School sailed her RS Tera Sport around the course twice well ahead of her fellow competitors to secure two first places.
Day 2
For those youngsters still standing after Saturday’s challenging conditions they were not greeted by calm waters on early Sunday morning. Instead the wind still blew but the challenging gusts from Saturday were gone giving much more steady sailing weather.
The main fleet again managed to put in three races, two in the morning and one in the afternoon. 16 year old Daniel Wigmore in his Laser 4.7 from Northampton, remained consistent in the top two places in the Handicap fleet. Alongside him in the main Laser Radial fleet, Joe Simmons scored two first places but the weather conspired and his third race ended DNF.
In the Topper fleet Bella Fellows finished her weekend off with a 1st, 2nd and 2nd. Lucy Greenwood in the Rookie fleet continued her run to the finish line securing another first and a third place.
Overall Results:
Topper
1st - Bella Fellows
2nd - Toby Freeland
3rd - Sarah Alcock
Laser
1st - Joe Simmons
2nd - Mathew Aldous-Hourne
3rd - Tim Lupton
Handicap
1st – Daniel Wigmore
2nd - Hannah Whiteside
3rd - Cameron Tweedle
Rookie
1st - Lucy Greenwood
2nd - Peter Freeland
3rd - Jenny Guy
As is the way with all sailing events as soon as everybody was safely ashore the wind dropped and became perfect sailing weather – typical!
NSSA events are reliant on large numbers of volunteers and the organisers would like to thank the race officials, safety crews, beach masters and the parents who have given up time to bring their youngster to the event. Particular mention should go to the Catering team, Pete Watt, Nigel Vick, Andy Kerr and Adrian Kemp.