29ers at the RYA ISAF Youth Worlds Trials 2015
by Suzie Hammett 1 Sep 2015 18:57 BST
29-31 August 2015
Over the August bank holiday seventeen of the top UK under 18 all boy and all girl 29er pairings travelled to Hayling Island Sailing Club for a 3 day selection event to compete for a place at the ISAF Worlds in Malaysia over Christmas. The idea was to replicate racing conditions at the ISAF venue of 8-13 knots and therefore racing was restricted to under 15 knots. With courses set in the tidal flow plus a mix of rain, sun and offshore winds it was hard to see that Hayling had failed to deliver the ideal conditions aside, perhaps, from the small difference of 10-15C in air temperature.
In the boys fleet two pairings dominated the first two days with European 29er Silver Medalists Crispin Beaumont / Tom Darling posting 1,1,2,2,5 and George Tardrew / Freddie Simes posting 1,2,3,3,4. These pairings opened a decent gap to the following pack led by James Hammett and Ben Todd but with group of 4 boats all within a handful of points behind them. The final day bought a fresher feel and a gusty Northerly that climbed in strength towards the upper end of the permitted wind range. Some more volatile scoring ensued as pressure started to impact the sailors along with the shifty wind. Both leaders used both of their discards in the final 3 races but ultimately a 1,2 from George/Freddie, interspersed between a RTD and 10th,, was enough to secure victory. Crispin/Tom were consistent but could not quite take advantage and a 4,6,7,8 left them 5 points adrift. 6 points back were James/Ben, who took 3rd, holding off a late charge from Bobby Hewitt and Harvey Martin who "won" the day with a 1,2,3,4.
In the girls it was really a game of two halves. Rebecca Lewis / Eve Townsend and Phoebe Connellan / Sophie Otter were the early pace setters with 5,3,1,3,1,1 and 3,1,2,4,2,4 respectively but both pairs faded on the final day. Despite two bullets from Hannah Bristow and Emily Covell on the last day the ISAF place ended with a battle between National Champions Courtney Bilbrough/Harriet Ward and 29er newcomer Hattie Rogers paired with World Champion crew Emma Loveridge. Courtney and Harriet won through following a shaky start to the regatta to post a 1,2,2,4 on the last day and secure their place to Malaysia in December.
Congratulations to the GBR representatives George Tardrew/Freddie Simes and Courtney Bibrough/Harriet Ward for their performances over the weekend and good luck from the 29er Class. Thank you to Hayling Island Sailing Club and the RYA for hosting the event.
Overall Results:
Boys
1st George Tardrew and Freddie Simes (HISC/Bewl)
2nd Crispin Beaumont and Tom Darling (Bartley/HISC)
3rd James Hammett and Ben Todd (HISC/HISC)
Girls
1st Courtney Bilbrough and Harriet Ward (HISC/HISC)
2nd Hattie Rogers and Emma Loveraidge (RLYC/RLYC)
3rd Rebecca Lewis and Eve Townsend (Emsworth/Emsworth)
Full Results at http://sailwave.com/results/rya/2015-ISAF-selection/29er.htm#summarymale
The 29er class looks forward to a busy autumn of Harken GP events with Squad selection as well as a large Open training programme. Details at http://www.29er.org.uk/index.php/events/year.listevents/2015/08/31/-