Stage is set for RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing
by Matt Carter, RYA 17 Oct 2014 14:08 BST
18-19 October 2014
Action from the 2013 RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championship © Paul Wyeth / RYA
Over 300 young sailors will be bidding for bragging rights this weekend (18-19 October) as Oxford Sailing Club, Farmoor Reservoir, plays host to the RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships 2014.
This annual event, one of the highlights of the RYA's Racing calendar, is set to be a thrilling weekend with team racing providing the nation's sailing stars of the future the opportunity to develop their boat handling, rule understanding and team work whilst racing in a fun yet competitive arena.
The two day regatta will welcome teams from the Junior and Youth class associations, zones, clubs, schools and individual teams who will commence battle in the two separate events. The Junior fleet will contest in RS Fevas and the Youth fleet Firefly's for teams of three boats (all boats are supplied).
23 teams in the Junior fleet and 27 teams in Youth fleets will take to the waters of Farmoor Reservoir. For some of the young sailors this will be their first experience of competitive team racing while for others this will be a fierce encounter as they seek event victory and the all-important Championship title.
Team racing is exciting and sociable in which a team of sailors work together to try and establish an overall winning combination. One race typically lasts for about ten minutes but each team usually gets to do between 6 and 16 races during the regatta, with an approximate 250 races scheduled for this weekend.
Two teams from the south coast were crowned champions at last year's event, with 'Team Oracle' taking the championship title in the Youth fleet and the 'Flying Spinnakers' making their mark in the Junior fleet.
David Campbell James, RYA Team Racing Chairman, said: "The RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships has once again proved really popular, with entries selling out fast. The weekend looks set to provide some challenging conditions in which the Race Management teams will try their best to complete as many races as possible in a fun and safe environment. With the ongoing support of the Eric Twiname Trust, we are looking forward to a great weekend of action packed team racing at Farmoor Reservoir."
For further information on the event please visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk