RYA Midlands Youth Series Finale at Bartley Sailing Club
by Simon Hardiman 19 Sep 2019 07:39 BST
Sunshine and force 3 winds greeted the competitors as they arrived at Bartley Sailing Club for the RYA Midlands Youth Series finale. Race Officers Aida Milvydaite and John Ling provided the briefing followed by a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday for John by the sailors.
The five-race regatta then got under way in strengthening and then weakening winds as the clouds came and went.
Race one enabled the sailors to get a feel for the course and where the gains were with some big opportunities on the upwind leg often neutralised by the fickle wind on the run. Sean Ricketts in his Supernova was first to the windward mark but also first to get caught out by a gust and take an early swim. The Laser fleet got away well and made the most of the stronger wind periods managing to pull away as they got up to full speed on the reach. Megan Hardiman sailed her 4.7 rig flat and fast upwind and with just the right amount of heel on the downwind legs to take the win from Harrison Allen and last year's winner Tom Williams.
The wind strengthened in race 2 and whilst the Lasers stretched away with the Supernova, and the Toppers had their own battle, it was Theo Smith in his Optimist who nailed the beats to take the win from Megan Hardiman. Josh Oates took third place from Tom Williams in a tight battle between the Laser full rigs.
After a great lunch at Tilly's Galley an increased fleet took to the water as Mona Nygard borrowed one of the club boats to take part rather than just watch her sisters Stella and Eva.
A course change meant more reaches in race 3 and the stronger wind conditions meant the Laser full rigs and Supernova shot away from the chasing pack. In the 4.7s Harrison Allen reached the windward mark ahead of Stella Nygard and Megan Hardiman however by the time they were back to the leeward mark Megan had passed Stella and her match racing tactics forced Harrison high and gave her rights at the mark to get ahead. This battle slowed the group down considerably allowing Millie Hardiman sailing her Topper for the first time to catch up to the back of the group and beat them on handicap. In the end it was the Laser full rig of Tom who beat Josh and Sean in his Supernova into second and third respectively.
Race 4 had many battles throughout the fleet; Josh, Tom and Sean were close throughout with Josh winning the battle in the end, in the 4.7 / Radial fleet Harrison made sure it didn't go all Megan's way taking the honours while Stella and Eva upped their game closing in on them. In the Toppers Millie, Cecily Webb and Tiarnan Smith fought well with Ben Hodgetts keeping them honest as he steadily improved as the day went on in his first regatta. Theo kept the Optimist driving forward and took third place behind Harrison and Megan after the results were processed.
The final race was a battle of the full rigs with Josh and Tom equal at the finish and Megan remaining consistent to take third.
The team de-rigged and dried off with a welcome piece of John's birthday cake to replenish their energy for the prize-giving.
Regatta results:
1st Under 12: Theo Smith - Optimist - 5483 - Bartley S.C.
1st Under 2 years experience: Ben Hodgetts - Topper - 40647 - Bartley S.C.
| Pos | Fleet | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Laser 4.7 | 141464 | Megan Hardiman | Bartley S.C. | 1 | 2 | ‑7 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2nd | Laser | 186251 | Tom Williams | Bartley S.C. | 3 | 4 | 1 | ‑5 | 1.5 | 9.5 |
| 3rd | Laser | 180713 | Josh Oates | Bartley S.C. | ‑4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1.5 | 10.5 |
| 4th | Laser 4.7 | 213555 | Harrison Allen | Bartley S.C. | 2 | 5 | ‑8 | 1 | 6 | 14 |
| 5th | Optimist | 5483 | Theo Smith | Bartley S.C. | 5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | ‑7 | 14 |
| 6th | Supernova | 1073 | Sean Ricketts | Bartley S.C. | 6 | 6 | 3 | ‑7 | 4 | 19 |
| 7th | Topper | 41818 | Millie Hardiman | Bartley S.C. | ‑9 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 25 |
| 8th | Laser 4.7 | 137288 | Stella Nygard | Olton Mere | 7 | 7 | ‑9 | 6 | 8 | 28 |
| 9th | Laser Radial | 161753 | Eva Nygard | Olton Mere | 8 | 9.5 | ‑11 | 9 | 9 | 35.5 |
| 10th | Topper | 42852 | Cecily Webb | Bartley S.C. | 10 | 9.5 | 6 | ‑11 | 11 | 36.5 |
| 11th | Topper | 41441 | Tiarnan Smith | Barnt Green | 11 | 11 | 10 | ‑12 | 10 | 42 |
| 12th | Topper | 40647 | Ben Hodgetts | Bartley S.C. | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | (RET) | 46 |
| 13th | RS Tera Sport | 1001 | Mona Nygard | | (DNC) | DNC | 13 | 13 | DNS | 54 |
Series Prizes: (awarded by Don Munro)
1st Megan Hardiman - Laser 4.7 - 141464 - Bartley S.C.
2nd Harrison Allen - Laser 4.7 - 213555 - Bartley S.C.
3rd Cecily Webb - Topper - 42852 - Bartley S.C.
4th Millie Hardiman - RS Tera - 2122 - Bartley S.C.
5th Greg Cornes - Laser Radial - 197694 - Chase S.C.
Team Prize: Bartley S.C.
1st under 12: Theo Smith - Optimist - 5483 - Bartley S.C.
1st under 2 years experience: Ben Hodgetts - Topper - 40647 - Bartley S.C.