420s at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club Harken Youth Regatta

420s at the Lymington Harken Youth Regatta © Cherie Dodd

Whilst the Cadets are away the 420s will play! This year's Royal Lymington Yacht Club Harken Youth Regatta consisted of only 420s this year as the Cadets, Laser 4.7 & Laser Radials were away competing for squad places at class selectors. This allowed a new clutch of 420 sailors to test the water at Lymington.

With 8 out of the 16 entries absolute newcomers to the class the ex-Topper, Cadet, Oppie and even 29er sailors opted for a 1 day training, 1 day regatta package. Training on Saturday started with a light breeze enabling the sailors an easy passage out of the river and a gentle introduction into the 420.

The training session was led by Charlie Cox and James Dodd both 2012 420 World Team members. After a lull at lunchtime the wind picked up and 3 practice races were held in the afternoon, the sailors were quick to adjust to the faster pace of the 420 than their previous classes and they revelled in trying to beat each other to the finish line. A call for a crew's race saw the final practice race of the day head back towards the river entrance, all seemed ready for the racing on Sunday.

The weather on Sunday started as it finished on Saturday relying on RIB crews towing all the 420s out to the race area east of the river. As predicted it didn't take long for the wind to build from zero to 15 knots with the occasional 22 knot gust. It was certainly a challenge for some but all hung on and were determined to spend as much time on the water as possible.

With most of the Race Team having only returned from WPNSA and the Paralympics the previous day the sailors were in safe hands and the scheduled 3 races were completed on time allowing the sailors to return to Lymington a lot quicker than when they left in the morning. All had the broadest of smiles but a few crews were looking a little damp!

After some close racing at the top of the fleet James Taylor and Tom Lovesey came out on top, with Ben Hazledine and Rhos Hawes 2nd on equal points and Tim Riley and Luke Bury in 3rd. Ice-cream and sprinkles awaited the sailors, race team and safety crews who had all worked incredibly hard to make this year's Harken Youth Regatta one to remember.

Overall Results: