NSSA Team Racing Champs at Upton Warren Sailing Club
by Chris Lowe 7 Oct 2010 10:34 BST
2-3 October 2010
This year’s National School Sailing Association Team Racing Championship was held at Upton Warren, Bromsgrove, and organised by Worcestershire School Sailing and Canoeing Association and Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre. Twenty eight teams of Under 19 year olds, representing thirteen counties, joined the four Worcestershire teams, to sail in topper dinghies, under the format of the Wilson Swiss League.
The weather was varied throughout the weekend which always makes for challenging sailing. As we went into the weekend it was wet and blustery but we were in luck on Saturday with a fairly steady Force 2/3 wind and dry, which producing ideal team racing conditions, allowing continuous sailing all day. Sunday was very wet, and though the gusty Force 3/4 wind was stronger than on Saturday we were fortunate that the predicted forecast of increased winds did not happen.
By early afternoon on Sunday an incredible 178 races had been completed with four teams qualifying for the semi-finals, which both went to a three race off, resulting in Northamptonshire B and Magdalen going through to the Final which took place in very light wind conditions.
Magdalen won the first race but could not hold off the lighter and younger Northamptonshire B Team who won the next two races, to take two trophies, the overall Championship Trophy (the HMY Britannia Gig’s Yoke) as well as the Under 16 Trophy (The Angus Westley Trophy). The home team from Worcestershire were not to be outdone and the “A” team – Kai Loudon (Chase School), Pip Cusack (RGS School) and Tony Sammons (Worcester College of Technology) were rewarded by winning the Plate Final (the Lancashire Plate).
The complexity of running this event was only possible due the hard work given by a huge number of over 50 volunteers who gave their time, both at the weekend and in the planning stages. Many of whom had represented Worcestershire team in years gone by.
The current Worcestershire team also covered themselves in glory in the boat park as they were congratulated by everyone for their hard work and willingness to help with preparing boats for sailing and at the end of the day were back there again loading boats onto trailers. The sailors worked extremely hard to help host the event with such efforts, as well as take part themselves. We are justifiably proud of their endeavours ! And for the record, WSSCA are already looking forward to hosting the event again knowing our current junior sailors will then be the organisers rather than the sailors !!
Please see the full results and the massive photo gallery.