RYA Youth Nationals 2007

RYA Youth Nationals 2007
When:	9-14 April
Where:	Hayling Island, Hampshire
Winners
1st:	Richard Hamilton
2nd:	Jacob Brubert
3rd:	Elliot Carney
1st Girl:	Kirsten O'Callaghan

The Youth Nationals is the climax of the winters training either in RYA squads or independently. Primarily the event is used to select the team to represent Great Britain at the Youth Worlds; the most prestigious youth sailing event to be held this year in Kingston, Lake Ontario, Canada in July. The RS:X class (sailing on 8.5m sails) compete alongside a variety of single and double handed dinghy youth classes.

With over 300 competitors taking part, Hayling Island Sailing Club was pushed to its limit. The RS:X fleet was one of the smaller fleets sailing, with 16 boards on the water. For the sailors this is one of the toughest events; they’re competing against people they have been training with all winter, whilst they’re friends off the water, on the course they’re fiercest competitors. The prizes are high as well, with national squad and world’s team places up for grabs.

Looking at the forecast, it seemed as though our particularly windy winter had blown itself out. For the entire week, only one race was held in (semi) planing conditions. On the other hand it was lovely bank holiday weather!

The First Day of Action

At 3 o’clock the 29ers (who we were sharing a course with) were sent out. We ended up hanging around on the course waiting for them to finish. Finally a race was started inside Chichester harbour but by this time the wind had dropped enough for the race to be a bit of a pump-athon. Sailing on the river, the tide was playing a major part in the racing. Those who managed to suss it out were making big gains. Elliot Carney led for the whole race and made a perfect start to his youth nationals campaign. Jacob Brubert finished second, managing to stay ahead of Richard Hamilton. Both Andrew Petts and Duncan Bryan, two of the four independent sailors at the event (not in any RYA squad) beat most of the national squad sailors to finish 5th and 6th respectively.

Almost Planing

According to the forecast, this seemed to be the most promising day. Hopes were high as we planed out to the start line, this time out in front of East Wittering. The shifty offshore breeze (NE) soon dropped off a little so there was little chance of a planing race. The first start was recalled with several boards over the line. The second start was under a black flag (any boards over in the last minute would be disqualified). All the boards got away clear this time. With the tide flowing strongly on the course, boards that went up the left came out ahead. However the most gains were made downwind especially by those who could get planing. Richard Hamilton won by a large margin, with Kim Jiskoot in second. Dan Skudder improved on his first result with a solid 3rd.

Race 3 started under a black flag once again. Richard Hamilton took a deserved win again with Kim taking second. Downwind most boards came off the plane and it turned out to be the last race of the day.

5-7 Knots Of Pumping Hell

The wind seemed more promising than the forecast suggested when we arrived at the club and we were soon out on the water. Once out there, the mist came, the wind went and the postponement flag went up. The race committee were understandably itching to get a race in so we followed them to an area in front of Hayling Island. After sailing in circles for some time, the wind decided to fill in at about 5-7knots. Race 4 was started; the fleet split up the beat but those who went right came out ahead. Ed Strange, after having a poor start to the week, was in the front group though leading by a fair margin by the windward mark was Jacob Brubert. The biggest surprise was seeing the top three sailors from yesterday, Richard Hamilton, Kim Jiskoot and Elliot Carney well down the fleet. Jacob finished first, though Richard Hamilton made an awesome effort to catch back up to second.

Race 5 started in similar conditions though this time the majority of the fleet chose to go right. Elliot and Jacob were first to the windward mark, Jacob winning out by the finish after two rounds of the windward-leeward course. Richard Cleworth finished third, beating Richard Hamilton into fourth, so far his worst result of the week. With Jacob’s victories today, both he and Richard Hamilton were on equal points at the top. Further down the results there was a battle going on between Peter Fey, Andrew Petts and Ed Strange, all within one point of each other. With a discard after the fifth race, sailing one race on Saturday could change everything - consequently some were praying for no wind!

Dubious!

The RS:X’s were the only class to sail a race on the last day in very dubious conditions. The wind was dead offshore and fighting against a sea breeze. On the start line the wind suddenly went left causing chaos. Ed Strange had an awesome start, flying off on port, and with the wind shifted laid the windward mark without tacking. Richard Cleworth was first to the windward mark and went on to win the race with Elliot second. Richard Hamilton had only to beat Jacob to win, so they ended up sailing each other to the back of the fleet. Richard won, to become Youth National Champion and will represent Great Britain at Lake Ontario.
Due to injuries and exams, Kirsten O’Callaghan was the only girl sailing although she would be first to admit she didn’t have a great week on the water, we wish her luck at Lake Ontario in July. Andrew Petts finished first independent sailor. For the rest of the year the RS:X fleet will compete at UKWA race events and later at the RS:X Youth World championships in Sopot, Poland.

For more info on RYA Youth events go to: www.ryaracingevents.org.uk

Barely a breath