NSSA Single Handed Team Racing Championship
by Chris Lowe 7 Oct 2011 08:07 BST
1-2 October 2011
This year's National School Sailing Association Single Handed Team Racing Championship was held at Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre, Bromsgrove for the second year running, and organised by Worcestershire School Sailing and Canoeing Association. Twenty six teams of under 19 year olds, representing thirteen counties from across the country, joined the six Worcestershire teams, to sail in topper dinghies, under the format of the Wilson Swiss League.
The weather throughout the weekend was as forecast and positively tropical and dry throughout. Fortunately the wind was not as forecast, and despite a slow start on Saturday, the wind finally kicked in just before midday and then quickly maintained a force 2/3 for the remainder of the day, which produced ideal team racing conditions. Again on Sunday, it took a little while for the wind to start, but once it did, was steady force 2 which allowed racing to continue uninterrupted.
By early afternoon on Sunday an incredible 112 races had been completed, with four teams qualifying for the semi-finals. These were South Tyneside A team against South Tyneside B team, which went to a hotly contested three race off, resulting in South Tyneside A going through to the final. The second semi final was between Cambridge A and Derbyshire B, which again went to a three race off, resulting in Cambridge A going through to the final.
The wind maintained for the three final races, with very close team racing, leaving South Tyneside A as the overall Championship winners, and who took away the HMY Britannia Gig's Yoke.
Cambridge A were the highest placed under 16 team in the Championship and were awarded The Angus Westley Trophy, together with being runners up in the Championship.
The above two teams will represent the NSSA in the RYA Youth and Junior Team Racing Championship to be held at Oxford Sailing club later in October.
Lancashire A team were awarded the Lancashire Plate.
The complexity of running this event was only possible due the hard work given by volunteers from Worcestershire School Sailing Association, Upton Warren Sailing Club and Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre. Over sixty volunteers, young and old, gave their time, both at the weekend and in the planning stages. Many of these volunteers had themselves represented the Worcestershire team in previous years.
The event was supported by sponsorship from Virtual Rigger, Topper, Gill, Upton Warren Sailing Club, Upton Warren OEC and other local sailing clubs and outdoor education centres.