Worcestershire Schools' Sailing and Canoeing Association OnBoard Regatta
by Karenza Morton 9 Jul 2016 11:25 BST
2-3 July 2016
the Worcestershire Schools' Sailing and Canoeing Association (WSSCA) OnBoard Regatta © Karenza Morton
Chase High School ruled the waves as their young sailors landed the top prize at the annual Harken-supported Worcestershire Schools' Sailing and Canoeing Association (WSSCA) OnBoard Regatta for a record the eighth time in 20 years at Upton Warren SC on 2-3 July.
In the year WSSCA graduate and British Sailing Team star, Alison Young, heads to Rio to compete at her second Olympics in the female Laser Radial one-person class, no fewer than 30 pupils from 11 schools across Worcestershire bid to follow in her wake, competing for 17 sailing and paddling trophies and with Chase High again Best School Team Trophy winners.
WSSCA aims to introduce and develop young people in the sport of dinghy sailing, and many of the youngsters have learned to sail with their schools through RYA OnBoard, the national sailing programme providing low cost opportunities for schools enabling youngsters aged eight to 18 to learn to sail and stay in the sport.
Sailing took place in a range of different junior and youth level dinghies - Picos, RS Fevas, Toppers and Lasers - and sailors ranged in ability from those who only learned to sail this year to those who are competing in national level class events.
Bowbrook School's Ed Rose claimed a nail-biting victory in the Laser Shield, with he and second placed Nathan Wilmott-Miller (Droitwich High) tying on points at the end of the last race and a protest hearing determining the outcome. Ed also won the Long Distance kayak race. Catherine Horsington (Northwick Manor) took the Junior Topper Trophy as well as the Margaret Alton Award for top girl, and Chase High's Isha Loudon took the senior Topper Shield. Meanwhile Archie Coates (Westacre Middle School) claimed the Pico Shield and Chase High's Alice Russell won the Feva Trophy.
Amber Scott (Chase High) won the Most Improved WSSCA Sailor over the last two years, and Max Arnold (Witton Middle School) was recognised for his enthusiasm. The Bell Boat Trophy went to Droitwich School as Chase High's Ella Spain completed a paddling double in the Junior Slalom Shield and Junior Long Distance events, and her schoolmate Joe Xia won the Slalom Shield.
In addition, Chris Bell, who has just retired from Chase High, received the J Brooke Trophy for a volunteer who has contributed over and above to WSSCA. Chris has taken youngsters sailing every week for the last 13 years and still helps at weekends. Many of the Chase sailors who won awards at the regatta were there because he had got them into sailing.
Vivien Brookes, Chair of the WSSCA, said: "All fleets sailed six races in a gusty force 4 on Saturday with a much calmer force 2-3 on Sunday. We were fortunate to also have the RYA coach, Curtis Mearns, for the weekend, who helped both experienced and less experienced sailors with their starts of races and tactics during the race, as well as providing a talk on pathways available to our sailors outside WSSCA activities.
"With Alison heading off to Rio this summer, the regatta proved a timely reminder of exactly what is possible from growing up 'pond' sailing in Worcestershire and I know everyone associated with WSSCA wishes her all the best at next month's Games."
Bewdley's 2016 Laser Radial World Champion Alison competed at WSSCA regattas from 2000 to 2005, and represented Worcestershire at National School Sailing Association (NSSA) events. The current WSSCA sailors are preparing to represent their county at the NSSA National Youth Regatta in Great Yarmouth later this month.
The competing schools were Abberley Hall School, Aston Fields Middle School, Bowbrook Hall School, Chase High School, Cheltenham College, Droitwich High School, Hanley Castle High, Northwick Manor Primary, South Bromsgrove High, Witton Middle and Westacre Middle.
Since its launch in 2005 over half a million kids have been introduced to sailing and windsurfing through RYA OnBoard, with around 10 per cent taking up the sports on a regular basis. For more information about WSSCA visit wssca.wordpress.com or to find out how your school or club could get involved in RYA Onboard visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard