Celebrating 30 years of the RYA Eric Twiname Championships
by Imogen Stanley, RYA 5 May 2016 16:16 BST
7-8 May 2016
Molly Howell at the RYA Eric Twiname Championships © Paul Wyeth / RYA
This weekend the RYA and the Eric Twiname Trust will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the RYA Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland Sailing Club (7-8 May). Sailors are selected to represent their Zone or Home Country by their coaches following a winter of training, and are some of best up and coming racers in the country.
For the past 30 years the Eric Twiname Trust, in conjunction with the RYA, has funded the full cost of the event, supporting thousands of young sailors across the country to make their first steps on the racing ladder.
The event has some high-profile alumni, including the British Sailing Team's Alain Sign, recently selected for the Rio 2016 Olympics in the 49er class, and who raced in his Topper at the Championships over 15 years ago.
Some 271 sailors will compete in the RS Feva, Topper, Optimist and a number of Techno windsurf classes this weekend. They will be competing for class honours as well as aiming to win the Eric Twiname Dinghy and Windsurf Trophies, awarded to the Zone or Home Country with the best overall team in the windsurf or dinghy disciplines.
The South West Zone won the 2015 Windsurf Trophy and will be looking to defend their title. Meanwhile the South Zone won the Dinghy Trophy and the overall Eric Twiname Shield.
The Eric Twiname Trust was set up by Eric's father Alec. Eric had many talents and one of his strongest passions was sailing. The trust has funded many areas of sailing, but now concentrates on youth sailing, in particular racing.
As well as being the lead sponsor for the RYA Eric Twiname Championships, the Trust funds the purchase of boats for organisations and supports the Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships which will be held at Oxford Sailing Club later this year.
Chris Atherton, RYA Event Director, said: "The forecast for the weekend looks perfect for the event and to celebrate the 30th year anniversary milestone really is a great achievement. The Eric Twiname Trust has continued to support this event, the team racing and individuals for over 30 years and many of our Rio 2016 stars have been supported by the Eric Twiname Trust during their careers.
"We at the RYA would like to thank the Eric Twiname Trust for their support and I look forward to seeing all the sailors take to the waters of Rutland for a fantastic weekend of racing."
The Laser 4.7 Junior Squad selection event will also take place over the weekend at Rutland Water Sailing Club.
As well as the on-water competition, the sailors will take part in a number of 30 year celebratory activities on Saturday afternoon including a surf simulator, an inflatable "demolition zone" and human table football tournament, in which the RYA Zone and Home Country teams will go head to head against each other and their coaches.
More about the Eric Twiname Trust at www.erictwinametrust.org
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