RYA Volvo Youth Nationals at Largs Sailing Club - Day 3
by Karenza Morton, RYA 15 Apr 2009 20:57 BST
13-17 April 2009
Bizarre breezes keeps it interesting at RYA Volvo Youth Nationals
It was a case of man against the elements as the sailors did battle against some bewildering wind conditions on day three of the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships and Trials at Largs today (Weds 15 April).
With the 250 sailors held on shore until midday as gusts of up to 42 knots rattled around the Clyde this morning (Weds 15 April), they then engaged in a sea-bound game of snakes and ladders as the breeze swung from every direction and at every speed keeping the sailors and officials fully on their toes.
In the end, and in the company of HRH The Princess Royal, the 420s, Laser Standards and Laser Radials managed to get one race in apiece while despite the best attempts to get the 29ers racing, a course could not be laid and racing was abandoned for the class. The RS:X windsurfers did not launch.
David Campbell-James, event director and Principal Race Officer, explained: “It has been an extremely testing day for everyone involved and all the sailors and officials deserve an awful lot of credit for their patience and desire to get racing on.
“After the morning’s 35 knot gusts eased, the Easterlies continued to present very difficult conditions to try to set a course throughout the afternoon with the wind swinging about and fluctuating between 20 knots and five knots sometimes in a matter of seconds.
“It would have been the easy option to abandon racing earlier in the day but the sailors were keen to race and we were keen to get everyone racing so I think everyone was pleased to get out on the water and give it their best shot.”
Saltash’s Phil Reynolds propelled himself back to the top of the Laser standings when he was able to take advantage of a big shift and ride past the rest of the fleet to take first.
With the discard coming into play after six races, 17-year-old Reynolds was able to discount the disqualification he suffered yesterday to edge ahead of West Mersea’s Martin Evans although the two boys sit tied on the same number of points, 11. Seaford’s Alex Mills-Barton follows just a point behind, scoring a third today and also discarding a disqualification.
In their one race of the day the 420s went to form with the top two teams overnight securing 1-2 today.
Christchurch’s Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton, from Guildford, now boast a nine point lead at the top of the fleet courtesy of their fourth race win of the regatta while Ben Palmer and Konrad Weaver sit pretty in second following their second-place finish. A third for Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett today sees them move from fifth into the final medal position.
Wimbledon’s Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp from Thames Ditton head the girls’ charge with a fifth place today moving them above overnight leaders Amy Seabright and Katrina Brewer while the Stanley sisters, Imogen and Hermione, now lie third.
With the Radial class split into gold and silver fleet from today, the Grant brothers from Falmouth, who sat in 1-2 going in to racing today, suffered at the hands of the shifts as reigning champion James, 16, scored a 36th while his younger sibling David, the overnight leader, posted a 44th. Home favourite Lorenzo Chiavarini enjoyed a fruitful day winning the race and a second for Oscar McVeigh sees him move into pole position.
However with the discard for the Final Series coming into play after four races of the Series, those sailors who lost ground today will be looking to make that discard count as the week progresses.
Monmouthshire’s Hannah Tilley, 15, remains at the top of the girls’ fleet with Charlotte Greenhalgh hot on her heels in second.
Racing resumes tomorrow with the first warning signal scheduled for 10.55am. To keep up-to-date with all the news as it happens in Largs visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk and sign up for the new results email alerts to get the latest results straight to your inbox and via the popular Youth Nationals blog.