London Youth Sailing League at Welsh Harp Sea Cadet Boat Station

Forty five keen sailors meet for the fourth round of the London Youth Sailing League. The regatta took place on Saturday 14th of September at the Welsh Harp Sea Cadet Boat Station in North West London. This grass root event made up of youth and junior sailors from across London supported Class racing with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The fleet were made of Toppers, RS Teras, RS Feva, Laser Pico and Laser Radial and were raced on PY in their classes to allow the smaller sails to still be competitive.

The day was greeted with blazing sunshine and light wind setting the scene for a perfect day out for those sailors who were experiencing their first ever regatta and equally a nice test for the more advanced as they tackled the light and shifty wind.

London Youth Sailing League at Welsh Harp - photo © Oliver Di Bartolo

Chief Race officer and event organiser, Iain Porter, set a port rounding upwind, down course with a wing mark set for the downwind leg.

The first race began with a steady breeze across the course and a couple of sailors in the Topper Class over the line but steadily faded as the race went on.

Mentionable performances were Mathew Beattie in the Topper and James Smaggersgale in the Laser Radial who both made excellent race starts and claimed comfortable victories in the first race.

After lunch and some deliberating about the reducing wind conditions, it was decided that the regatta would be shortened from four to three races with no discards available. The course remained the same but was reduced in size. With the wind speed dropping very close to zero the final two races of the day became a bit of a drift off, with competitors going around in a bunch making the mark rounding an interesting spectacle! Despite the lack of wind the racing continued to be close with sailors displaying their light wind expertise and ability to read the smallest of gusts.

London Youth Sailing League at Welsh Harp - photo © Oliver Di Bartolo

At the end of the regatta we had three completed races, five class winners and some tight point's finishes, which in the Topper class had to be decided by a count back. Prizes were awarded to the top two in each class.

Oliver Di Bartolo, the London Youth Sailing League coordinator commented, "Congratulations to everyone who took part today. It was great to see so many youth sailors from London clubs and centre enthusiastic about racing. We saw a record number of entries today in the league event. A huge thank you to Iain Porter and the sea cadets for hosting such a brilliant event which even included Lunch in the entry fee!

Steve Mitchell, Regional Development Officer London & South East commented, "The London Youth Sailing League is providing a fantastic opportunity for junior & youth sailors of London clubs and centres to get involved with local entry level racing and providing the parents, the majority of whom are new to the sport themselves, a chance to meet other parents and experience the buzz and atmosphere of a fun day out.

Once again, thank need to go to Welsh Harp Sea Cadets who were the perfect host for managing the racing and also the food and refreshments ashore".

London Youth Sailing League at Welsh Harp - photo © Oliver Di Bartolo

The final event of the London Youth Sailing League will be held at Queen Mary SC on the 19th October.

If you are a young sailor who either lives in London or sails at a London Club or Centre and would like more information about the London Youth Sailing League and how to get involved please visit London Youth Sailing League on Facebook.

* The London Youth Sailing League was set up in 2017 to support junior and youth sailors who either live in a London Borough or who are a member of a sailing club or centre that is located in a London Borough. The principle aim of the events is to provide local and affordable racing opportunities for sailors to experience their first sailing event and to help grow their network of sailing friends within London's active sailing community**

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