Rydal Penrhos School RS Tera sailing team - Update
by Pip Cockeram 28 Jul 2013 12:03 BST
28 July 2013
Rydal Penrhos School RS Tera sailing team © Tony Bale Photograph
Junior squad sailors from Rydal Penrhos School in North Wales have competed in RS Tera events from the Isle of Man to Weymouth in the course of this year's summer term. Rydal Penrhos is the only school in Wales with a Tera training fleet, and is ideally situated for sailing in Colwyn Bay on the North Wales coast. It is one of the few schools in the country to offer sailing as part of the sports curriculum with pupils from Year 3 (age 7) upwards being given a chance to try out their hands at sailing.
The first competition of the season for the junior squad was a relatively local one – the WYA 2013 Welsh Youth & Junior Open Championships in Pwllheli. Strong winds prevented much racing for the Regatta fleet, but Rydal Penrhos ended the event with complete domination of the podium, taking first, second and third place. At the RS Tera Northern Championships in the Isle of Man comprising six races over two days, prizes were awarded to Rydal Penrhos sailors Angus Smith (3rd in the Pro fleet) and Tom Bale (3rd in the Sport fleet).
Rydal Penrhos was the only school team to compete in the RS Tera Nationals, held at the Olympic venue in Weymouth. This was much the biggest event the school sailors had ever attended and was a great learning opportunity for the junior squad. Tom Bale achieved a very creditable 20th place overall in the Sport fleet. Rydal Penrhos rounded off the racing term with a resounding team win at the Northern Prep Schools Regatta in Sedbergh, featuring Tom Bale, Ewan Luke and Daisy Lee-Browne. With Max Todd, a national squad coach, in charge of the school's junior sailors, the school looks forward to much more to come from the junior squad in future events.
www.rydalpenrhos.com