Derbyshire Youth Sailing at Carsington Sailing Club

Derbyshire Youth at Carsington © Mike Haynes

Fabulous racing conditions

Weather conditions provided a fabulous day’s racing for the Derbyshire Youth Sailing 2011 Peak Dinghy Spares Series event that took place on Saturday 11th June at Carsington Sailing Club. A fair breeze of between 12 and 16 knots that was swinging and shifting, provided the necessary challenges for the county’s youth sailors to enjoy racing against each other in the mixed fleet entry of 38 boats.

It was another great days’ racing for Swarkestone SC member Callum Lambourn as he raced to another convincing victory in this year’s series.

The expected rain showers held off for most of the day, with large clouds passing close by and raining on the surrounding areas. Only a short shower from a menacing black cloud arrived during the packing away of boats after racing.

Race Officer Mike Haynes commented “The wind conditions today meant changes for the race course for each of the three races but the sailors coped brilliantly with the conditions. We had quite a few of the Carsington SC junior fleet racing in their first DYS event today and they certainly showed that their training was being put to good use. They were very impressive.”

The first race of the day saw Brother and Sister team Matthew and Emma Metcalfe-Smith from Ogston SC take a win in their Albacore dinghy with Ben Steel of Ogston SC in his OK coming second and Guy Bracey from Carsingston SC in his Laser Radial coming third.

After lunch, Callum Lambourn in his Laser 4.7 dominated the second race with Joshua Haynes of Trent Valley SC in his Optimist posting a second place and Matthew and Emma coming in third. The final race of the day was sailed straight after the second, once the course direction had been adjusted to suit the swinging wind. The third race saw a one-two for Swarkestone SC as Sam McKay in his Topper took the race win and Callum Lambourn came in second followed by Joshua Haynes in third place.

The race series is scored both on an overall basis and also with three age groups of Senior, Intermediate and Junior groupings. The leading Seniors were Callum, Matthew & Emma and Sam, with the Intermediate podium places being taken by Joshua ahead of Guy and Luke Rayner from Burton SC in his Topper. The Junior leaders were Roscoe Martin, of Ogston SC, in his Optimist ahead of Carsington sailors Thomas Woodings in his Topper 4.2 and Julie Howarth and James Eyre in their Mirror dinghy. Full results are available on the www.dysailing.com website.

Derbyshire Youth Sailing provides an excellent, fun racing and training programme for the county’s budding young sailors to compete against their peers from the clubs around the county. The volunteer run organisation also takes teams from Derbyshire to compete in the National Schools Sailing Association national events.

There is plenty of time for other racing youth sailors to join in the fun at the rest of the series events. The next event is on Saturday 16th July at Toddbrook SC near Whaley Bridge and is sure to be a popular occasion. Pre-register on www.dysailing.com. The series racing at County level provides a great opportunity to travel to other nearby clubs and get a taste for what can lie ahead as youth sailors venture out onto the regional, national and international racing circuits.