RS Aero UK Youth Championships 2023 at Burghfield Sailing Club

RS Aero UK Youth Championships 2023 © Burghfield Sailing Club

Burghfield Sailing Club welcomed twenty lively, up and coming young RS Aero youth sailors to compete for the UK National Youth Champion titles. Joining them was American Dylan Williams, flying over for the camaraderie and lake sailing practice.

The weekend did not deliver the winds of the last few weeks but Day 1 had sunshine and enough wind to allow the Race Officer, David Baddeley, and his team to get 5 short races in over a trapezoid course.

The sailors chose their rig of choice pre-registration, to make a fleet of 10 RS Aero 7s and 10 RS Aero 5s.

RS Aero UK Youth Championships 2023 - photo © Burghfield Sailing Club

Race one in the RS Aero 7 fleet saw local sailor Joe Jones get a good start from the pin end and then read the shifts and get ahead followed by Ed Rollestone and Charlie Howard. In the RS Aero 5 fleet Oscar Fry, sailing his new boat for the first time, took the lead followed by George Lenney and Noa Moskavitch.

Race two saw a little more breeze picking up allowing Joe to take another win, this time followed by Marcus Pakes and Ethan Sparkes. In the RS Aero 5 fleet Luke Markey took the line honours, followed by Oscar and Noa.

Being a civilised venue, competitors were sent ashore for a quick re-fuel at the galley before getting straight back on the water for more sunny but lighter races.

RS Aero UK Youth Championships 2023 - photo © Burghfield Sailing Club

Race 3 saw Ed win the RS Aero 7s with Charlie Gatehouse in 2nd and Marcus Pakes taking 3rd. Local sailor Adam Craig won the 5 fleet race, with Sebby Bailey in 2nd and Oscar 3rd. The wind was starting to drop now introducing more shifts and patches of wind that Burghfield is well known for and that breeds some of the country's best sailors. Race 4 saw William Bailey work these well to take a bullet in the RS Aero 7 fleet followed by Marcus and then Joe. In the RS Aero 5's Sebby took the win followed by Andrew Soars and then Noa. Race 5 in the 7 fleet saw another win for Joe, followed by Marcus and then Ed. In the 5 fleet Noa took the win, with Adam in 2nd and Andrew in 3rd.

Overall consistency paid as usual; Noa Moskavitch was crowned the RS Aero 5 UK National Youth Champion and first female, and Joe Jones was crowned the RS Aero 7 UK National Youth Champion and first Junior.

Class coach Sammy IJ, who had been laying marks and observing on the water, held a debrief in the club for the sailors sharing the winning tactics of the day - which focused on keeping your head out of the boat and changing gears from the light to stronger puffs of wind. This was followed by an excellent early curry dinner put on by the new Burghfield Caterer, Keith Burwood, allowing the youths to socialise before getting off early to dry kit.

RS Aero UK Youth Championships 2023 - photo © Burghfield Sailing Club

Sunday started with no wind. The gang were not in the mood to sit around, so the table tennis table was soon out and then the, Plan B, a Tug of War, got under way, with the first to five pulls fought hard on the beach and saw the youngsters reaching for their sailing gloves! The Plan C was light wind slalom racing across the wind to a single mark and then back to the finish with no rule 42. Pumping and rocking was the order of the day with the winners picking up Burghfield T-shirts for their physical efforts.

Prize giving was well attended with the beautiful RS Aero trophies (courtesy Team Rolfe) awarded along with quality sailing kit generously supported by Rooster.

Overall Results: