RYA OnBoard Festival at SailLaser, Weymouth
by Katie Ashworth, LaserPerformance 15 Oct 2009 07:49 BST
Molly and Noah Cheesman dry capsize during the RYA OnBoard Festival at SailLaser, Weymouth © Richard White
After a windy week, Saturday dawned bright and sunny with gentle winds for the final day of the Sail for Gold Regatta at WPNSA.
The children arrived at 9.00am, where they signed in and split into two groups – one to sail, and one to stay ashore. There were 23 sailors in the morning group and 25 in the afternoon group. The first group of sailors got underway at 10.00, wearing their brightly coloured OnBoard rash vests.
As they went afloat to practice their boat handling, the Sail for Gold RS:X windsurfers and the Laser class sailed out to their courses for their medal races. Unfortunately, after half an hour, the wind dropped to nothing, and the Laser and RS:X sailors were towed home, to wait for the wind to fill in.
Meanwhile, the OnBoard group stayed on the water, completing paddle races and dry capsize drills. They even managed a bit sailing when the breeze returned. By 12.30 a wet and happy OnBoard crew returned to the shore to change in time for lunch.
At 1.00pm the second group was ready to head out onto the water. The second group had the benefit of the arrival of the sea breeze, which enabled them to enjoy some short course racing. A leader board was set up and some competitive racing was enjoyed throughout the afternoon. However, it wasn’t all straightforward sailing. Each race included a challenge, from standing up on the way to the windward mark, tacking by running around the front of the mast and completing a dry capsize before the finish line – with the main aim being to stay dry!
After 4 races, the fleet returned to the shore in time for a prize giving. There were prizes for first, second and third boats and chocolates for everyone who had taken part. Including some specially designed Gold Medals!
While the OnBoard groups were ashore, they were lucky enough to be given a talk by Sarah Dempsey about her introduction to sailing and her inspiration to keep sailing at Olympic standard. Many of the Olympic classes were ashore during the afternoon, following the cancellation or completion of their medal races; they willingly signed autographs for the children who had been watching the action on the large TV screens. The morning OnBoard groups were the stars of the show – with their antics being broadcast on the screens for all to see!
At the end of the day the group were tired and were over heard as they left the venue making comments such as “that was the best days sailing of my life!” The team at SailLaser hope their enthusiasm stays with them, and look forward to supporting their sailing well into the future.
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