2011 NSSA National Youth Regatta at Grafham preview
by Cate Whiteside 14 Jul 2011 16:25 BST
24-30 July 2011
From the 24th to the 30th July 2011 the Cambridgeshire Schools and Youth Sailing Association are competing in and hosting the 2011 NSSA National Youth Regatta at Grafham Water Sailing Club.
The National School Sailing Association is a UK membership organisation whose aim is to include sailing as part of the educational experience of young people. They coordinate competitions at local, national and international level providing some of the biggest inclusive and prestigious sailing regattas in the country. These events serve as achievable milestones for the development of young people following their development in local associations and at sailing centres. Focusing on inclusion and the development of youngsters the NSSA has shaped the future of many youngsters including some of Great Britain’s current Olympic team.
Grafham Water Sailing Club is in the village of Perry. The Water is 3 miles long and 1.5 miles across at its widest. The 1600 acres of open water provide perfect sailing conditions for racing and over the past 12 months Grafham SC has hosted very successful events for Lasers, Toppers, RS Inlands and RYA youth events.
The CSYSA team has over 50 competitors this year and we are expecting a minimum of 300 competitors from teams across the country including Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire, Norfolk, Cumbria, Plymouth, Oxford, Milton Keynes & Bucks, Tees & Hartlepool, Yorkshire & Humberside, Datchet SC, Queen Mary SC & Churchers College in Hampshire.
The format of the event with perfect sailing conditions should see the competitors taking to the water for a number of races between 10am and 4pm. There is a rookie fleet which we expect to undertake shorter races and they will have coaches on the water to offer support and guidance where necessary. Wednesday is a day of special races including the Mount Haes Trophy which is sailed using a fleet of Topper Xenons.
Once the regatta sailing has finished each day and after dinner there will be debriefings from notable sailors. Then various activities are organised for the youngsters which this year will include Bell Boat racing, raft building, low ropes, archery and use of the climbing wall. The event will be closed with the prize giving and a disco on Friday 29th July.
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