Cambs Youth League at Ely Sailing Club

Cambs Youth League at Ely Sailing Club © Catherine Garters

On Saturday 5 July, it was Ely's turn to host a round of the Cambs Youth League. The league is a collaboration between 5 local clubs to promote friendly sailing for cadets up to 19.

Breaking from the past few years' precedent, it was a breezy day!

Kicking off early, we were hot to go with pastries and coffee a plenty for post-rigging nibbles and everyone managed to launch smoothly and efficiently on the slipway to have everyone ready and raring to go by the race briefing.

Almost every mark was laid for the course - with only bouy 4 missing out on the fun that our Race Officer Phil had in store. A few questions over the sailing course map (overground sailing anyone?!) and 20 fantastic sailors took to the lake to tackle a feisty South-Westerly wind. In true Ely style, the wind was bouncing around the lake - sure to keep things spicy for everyone and certainly not a chance of a dull day!

The slower classes were off first with Optimists, Laser Bugs and RS Teras making their way up the lake over to the far side before tacking back down to a spicy run in time to meet the Toppers set off on the second start. With some funky gybes and gusts, it took the ILCA and Byte fleet a while to catch the earlier starting boats but in no time, there were boats a plenty in the channel. But, thankfully, there really was incredible skill on display and everyone held their own. The ILCA fleet maintained close competition between themselves and come the 2nd lap, boats were interspersed between the flights with lots of battles throughout the fleet

Phew. A few capsizes and run ins with the shallows but with the vast majority finishing the course after 3 laps with the whistle of a committee boat. Then, it was time for lunch - always a great time of day.

Lunch saw jacket potatoes a plenty as well as a commendable rescue of a football booted a little too far on to the slope...

And then, we were off again! Race 2 saw the wind whip even faster with even the most experienced helms struggling to fight some gusts but everyone held strong despite some challenges, particulary for some newer sailors - we're all impressed! Come the end of race 2, Ely sailor Kieran was 2 for 2 with first places.

Some tired sailors had a quick refresh and then we headed back out for our final race of the day. Even on the start line, there were gusts from all directions, making for some challenging but exciting conditions for our last spin around the lake with the windiest conditions saved for last. Kieran held a 4th in race 3 after a dry capsize and Dotty, in an Optimist came first place for race 3.

The skill and determination on display was remarkable and we commend all those who #got knocked down but they got up again#. There weren't too many competitors who didn't inspect the underside of their boats but that didn't dampen the smiles and skill on display. The sportsmanship and respect of other sailors shown throughout the races did also not go unnoticed - it was a great day to be part of the Cambs sailing community.

Overall, it was a fantastic day. Sadly not too many photos as our rescue boat crews were a little preoccupied with some capsizes and run agrounds but we promise it looked very cool with some seriously impressive planing on show!

We finished the day with derigging and changing (and a good while trying to lift a very heavy anchor!) before all gathering under some ominous skies - but, crucially, no rain - for prize-giving.

Full results for the day and the Youth League series can be found on the Cambs Youth League site. But (drumroll please) awards today are:

• Team Winner - Ely (whoo)
• First overall - Kieran (Ely)
• Second overall - Dotty (Cam)
• Third overall - Robert (Hunts)
• First under 15 - Edward (Ely)
• Second under 15 - Lucas (Grafham)
• First under 12 - Issac (Hunts)
• Second under 12 - Michael (Ely)
• Endeavour prize - Jamie (Ely)
• Youngest competitor - Zoë (Grafham)

The endeavour prize was a hard one to award as so many sailors really pushed themselves today and it showed in great racing.

As you can tell, it was a great day for Team Ely and yes, we're very proud of our cadets' performance on their home water.

Huge well done to all competitors and thanks to the Ely volunteer team - Phil and Louise our Race Officer team, our galley crew, rescue crews and race assistants - we might be biased but we think our members are the best.

Thanks to everyone who came to play - we loved welcoming you at Ely.

Overall Results: