IAPS National Sailing Regatta at the WPNSA
by Mark McCloskey 23 May 2011 22:28 BST
19-20 May 2011
In partnership with SailLaser Weymouth
The second edition of the IAPS National Sailing Regatta was held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over two days from May 19 - 20 2011. The Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) worked closely with event partners, SailLaser Weymouth, to host this prestigious nationwide schools regatta. The event has expanded in status and entry size since the inaugural regatta took place last year. In total 138 children registered to take part in this year’s races from 41 different IAPS schools nationwide.
SailLaser, the on-site sail training provider based at WPNSA, handled the race management of the regatta with a high standard of professionalism and care over both days. The regatta utilised SailLaser’s expanded fleet of Laser Pico double handed dinghies to provide a one class entry for the Under 11 (U11) and Under 13 (U13) sailors, many of whom had travelled considerable distances to take part in the event.
Conditions for racing were near perfect with the gentle morning breezes building each afternoon to provide the young sailors with more challenge as the races progressed. On both days each age group raced as one large fleet during the morning races, dividing into separate Gold and Silver fleets in the afternoons. All the school crews sailed with remarkable determination, keen to finish amongst their respective fleet’s top three rankings.
The U11 event saw the crew from Buchan School, Isle of Man, (Ffinlo Wright and Matthew Petts) achieve a clean sweep of four straight race wins to take the top spot, making up for their near miss last year. Having moved up an age category, last year’s Ull winning crew, Felix Cleverdon and James Scott from University College School, London sailed consistently throughout the U13 races, picking up three second places and a first place to achieve the overall top spot in the U13 rankings. This was a most impressive achievement, especially taking into account the injuries that had struck both helm and crew in the intervening twelve months since the previous regatta.
The IAPS host school for this event, Leweston Prep, was especially pleased to see it’s young crew. Maddie Cooper and Olivia Robson, achieve a well deserved second place in the U11 Silver fleet. Mark McCloskey, IAPS Co-ordinator for Watersports, commented afterwards, “It is fantastic for the pupils at Leweston Prep, where I teach, to win the first ever sailing medals for our school. I am very proud of all the hard work the children have put into their sailing and thankful for the support that Leweston Prep has given me when planning this nationwide sailing regatta.”
Final presentations on both days included surprise appearances by several Skandia Team GBR sailors. The men’s 49er crew of Chris Draper and Peter Greenhalgh and the women’s 470 crew of Hannah Mills and Saskia Clarke presented medals and trophies to the U11 children, whilst Britain’s triple Olympic Gold medallist and current World Match Racing tour champion, Ben Ainslie was on hand to present the U13 sailors with their trophies. All the professional sailors took time out of their ‘Sail for Gold’ pre-regatta training to present the awards, sign autographs and chat with the young sailors. It was an inspiring finale to the IAPS National Sailing Regatta and provided the school children with very special memories to take home.
Overall Results:
U13 Gold Fleet
1st Felix Cleverdon & James Scott (University College School)
2nd Nicholas Wishart & Jack Lucas-Clements (Cranmore Prep School)
3rd Tristan Bracegirdle & Yann Bracegirdle (Tower House School)
U13 Silver Fleet
1st Sebastian Owen & Theo Lindsay (Wellesley House School)
2nd Fay Connor & Nicholas Priestley (Sunninghill Prep School)
3rd Tom Chivers & Clemmie Blaker (Cumnor House School)
U11 Gold Fleet
1st Ffinlo Wright & Matthew Petts (Buchan School)
2nd Henry Beardsall & Elizabeth Beardsall (West Hill Park School)
3rd Oliver Batt & Issie Gilliver (Sunninghill Prep School)
U11 Silver Fleet
1st Hannah Birchall & Pollyanna Wright (Hoe Bridge School)
2nd Madeleine Cooper & Olivia Robson (Leweston Prep School)
3rd Nicholas Milton & Edmund Shackleton (Perrott Hill School)
For further details about IAPS please visit the website at www.iaps.org.uk