Junior Regatta at Gurnard Sailing Club
by Chris Symons 4 Aug 2010 09:51 BST
23-25 July 2010
Gurnard's Junior Regatta 2010 © Rick Tomlinson /
www.rick-tomlinson.com
Perfect conditions greeted more than 70 young sailors competing in this year’s Gurnard Sailing Club Junior Regatta which was held in Gurnard Bay from Friday 23 July until Sunday 25 July.
The fleet of
57 boats were grouped into a race fleet comprising the older and more able cadets and a regatta fleet for those who required some coaching to complete the courses. In the main, cadets sailed Picos either single-handed or two-up whilst the very youngest competed in a fleet of bugs. New to the Junior Regatta this year were the seven RS Fevas which allowed the older cadets to gain more experience sailing two-up and handling the asymmetric spinnaker.
Tight triangular courses were set for all groups with the race fleet sailing longer legs and battling the infamous Solent tides. Plenty of experienced coaches were also on the water to help the younger cadets around the course and also to offer expert tips and advice for those seeking to hone their racing skills.
Sunshine and a steady force two allowed all the cadets to sail four races on day one. The wind strengthened on day two and a sea-breeze increased it further to a good force four/five in the afternoon. Despite the wind, all but the very inexperienced sailors managed to complete their scheduled four races with the final two races the following day being sailed in more modest conditions.
Racing in all fleets was hotly contested with no clear winner emerging from any fleet until the final day. Isabella Welch sailed to victory in the bug fleet chalking-up five wins despite a disastrous capsize on the second afternoon. The combined efforts of Ted Blowers and James Fountaine ensured them victory in the Regatta Pico two-up fleet and James Wilmott took the honours in the Regatta Pico single-handed group.
In the race fleets, the Pico group was convincingly won by Georgia Caws who narrowly missed out last year and the all girl team of Ella Symons and Ellie Ness lifted the cup in the Feva class.
Prizes were awarded by Olympic 470 sailor Saskia Clarke in a ceremony that also included the presentation of Volvo Champion Club status to Gurnard Sailing Club.
Results
Regatta Bug
1st Isabella Welch
2nd Sam Tremlett
3rd Joe Thompson
Regatta Pico single handed
1st Harry Wimott
2nd William Ralfs
3rd Amy Powell
Regatta Pico two-up
1st Ted Blowers & James Fountaine
2nd James Oxemham & Aaron Hall
3rd Sam Metcalf & Harrison McCarthy
Race Pico
1st Georgia Caws
2nd Lewis Fitzgerald
3rd Ben Symons
Race Feva
1st Ella Symons & Ellie Ness
2nd Harry Blowers and Rosie Daniels
3rd Jack Elsom & Joe Dove