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William Pitt SIR

P&B Northamptonshire Youth Series at Banbury Sailing Club

by Norman Byrd 11 Jul 2023 07:17 BST 8 July 2023
P&B Northamptonshire Youth Series at Banbury © Norman Byrd

The travelling P&B NYS sailors were greeted by the smell of bacon rolls as we arrived at Banbury Sailing Club. The club is based at Boddington reservoir, perhaps equidistant between Banbury, Daventry and Southam.

The weather was set to be, well, changeable. We were ready for anything. The briefing included a very formal thunder and lightening health and safety assessment (we'll get you off the water well in advance of anything happening) and a less formal instruction for the day (have fun). We were fortunate to have 3 sets of fantastic coaches on the water led by Rachel Heggs. Despite the reservoir being reasonably sizeable, the wind appeared to blow only in one corner of the lake. A wind shadow was firmly planted on the far shore, good job, it was lined with grumpy looking fishermen, we avoided them.

There was enough wind for some capsizes, and at least one incredibly graceful dive out of an almost capsizing (it didn't) Middle Nene sailed Tera. Sailors of all levels of experience practised starting, short beats, and sailing backwards. I know this not from watching, but by hearing the enthusiastic instructions from inside the club, some distance away, whilst sorting out the entries!

I had pre-booked the rain for lunch time, and more or less exactly on time, and for the correct amount of time, it drizzled. As soon as the last mouthful was eaten the rain stopped and the race briefing took place. We're particularly keen to encourage sailors new to racing, or indeed new to travelling, and so the briefings are never terribly serious. We launched for the racing. Sun cream and splash tops were required.

The course was a simple figure of eight. Despite some of the sailors being reasonably new to racing the sailing was fantastically close. There were many different race leaders in the Toppers causing the race officers (thank you Hannah and Julie) to be on their toes recording race times. Keali, Draycote (we double checked) won the first race whilst William, Hollowell, took the second. The last race was a little longer, Peter, Draycote led for the first few laps only to be overtaken. The Toppers finished with Keali winning from William and Charlie (Northampton).

The slow fleet, Optimists, Teras and Topper 4.2 was the largest fleet. Noah, Draycote, won the slow fleet in his Optimist from Finn, Hollowell, also in an Optimist. Henry, Draycote took third overall. Hari, Draycote, had a great afternoon improving in every race in his Topper 4.2 finishing second in the last race.

The sailors wolfed down a great tea (thank you all!) before the prize-giving.

Emily, the Northants NSSA team manager awarded the prizes. As ever, the most important prizes were awarded first, the first time medals. For some of the first timers this will be their first ever race, or their first ever trip away from their home club. Hopefully they all enjoyed it, 3 medals were awarded, Esme, Isaac and Emmeline, great job!

Overall, third prize went to William, although he was tied for points with Keali in second. Noah won. I failed to deliver such fantastic trophies as Middle Nene had awarded, but I think the sailors enjoyed the celebrations!

The first timers' series award looks highly likely to go to a Middle Nene sailor. But who will it be? It is scored based on the number of races started, then races completed if tied, and then points if still tied.

Next up is Northampton, 15th July. All junior sailors are welcome whether they are new to the series or not, and from any club. Be rigged and ready at 09.15 for another top day of coaching, racing and cake consumption!

Overall Results:

PosSail NoClassPYFleetClubHelmFirst EventR1R2R3Pts
1st6376OPTIMIST1635SlowDraycote Water SCNoah Byrd ‑1112
2nd48907TOPPER1369TopperDraycote Water SCKeali Rhodes 2‑435
3rd14961TOPPER1369TopperHollowell SCWilliam Clarke 32‑45
4th5556OPTIMIST1635SlowHollowell SCFinn Neal 63‑129
5th42830TOPPER1369TopperNorthampton SCCharlie O'Neill 46‑710
6th45370TOPPER1369TopperDraycote Water SCPeter Astley 5‑19510
7th47533TOPPER 4.21420SlowDraycote Water SCHari Clark ‑98.5210.5
8th3263RS TERA PRO1364SlowDraycote Water SCHenry Byrd ‑75611
9th1906RS TERA SPORT1445SlowMiddle Nene SCEsme HatsellYes88.5‑1116.5
10th46364TOPPER1369TopperHollowell SCEdward Croxton ‑1110919
11th29519TOPPER1369TopperMiddle Nene SCJoshua Gilson ‑1571320
12th3RS TERA PRO1364SlowMiddle Nene SCHarry Jarvis 12‑15820
13th32542TOPPER1369TopperDraycote Water SCJasper Nicholls 1011‑14.521
14th1RS TERA PRO1364SlowMiddle Nene SCFrank McAuley 13‑161023
15th46971TOPPER 4.21420SlowDraycote Water SCEd Whiitaker 1412‑14.526
16th47762TOPPER1369TopperHollowell SCThomas Croxton ‑18131730
17th4540RS TERA SPORT1445SlowMiddle Nene SCJameson Trollinger 1714‑1831
18th2RS TERA SPORT1445SlowMiddle Nene SCAthena Trollinger 1617‑1933
19th43526TOPPER 4.21420SlowDraycote Water SCIsaac FouldsYes20(DNF)1636
20th47181TOPPER 4.21420SlowDraycote Water SCEmmeline Astley 1918‑2037