Derbyshire Youth Sailing at Combs Sailing Club
by Joanne Hill 10 May 2023 20:59 NZST
29 April 2023
Derbyshire Youth Sailing at Combs © Sophia Morbey
For a change to recent years, we arrived to a very still, warm Combs Sailing Club on Saturday 29th April, for our Toddbrook Sailing Club Derbyshire Youth Sailing event. With Toddbrook Reservoir still being out of action Combs hosted the event.
Although the weather was very pleasant, the reflections of the hills in the water were not a good sign. Despite this, the sailors eagerly rigged their boats and patiently waited for the promised winds to fill in.
After much discussion and the hint of ripples on the water the first race of the day was announced, everyone launched to be greeted at the start line with a change of plan by the wind. With much determination the sailors all managed to head off to the windward mark and after a combination of interesting boat trimming, catching the odd gust and some very careful manoeuvres they came in for lunch having completed 3 laps.
After a good lunch and cake, provided for by Combs, all the sailors launched in good spirits (and a better breeze) to do two races back-to-back. Race 2 proved to be light again, with small gusts, but the wind was more constant for race 3, providing the spectators some close racing. George, our leader from race 1 and 2 found himself being chased by 2 Laser Radials and a Topper on the last down wind leg, with a near photo finish between the Radials there was much to chat about when they came off the water.
Congratulations to George, from Combs SC, who won overall in his Byte C11, Jonathan who came 2nd and Patrick who came a very close 3rd, both sailing Laser Radials and from Swarkestone SC. A special mention to two new sailors from Errwood who took part in their 1st DYS event and well done to all the sailors who navigated their way around in some trying conditions whilst still having fun. A shout out to some of our regular sailors who missed this event as they were at Rutland for the RYA ET's, by all accounts their wind was quite light too, but they achieved some good results over the 3 days- well done to you all.
Next we head to Ogston Sailing Club on 13th May for round 3, the sailors are already doing their wind dance in the hope for a little more of a breeze. For more information about DYS, our events and results please visit www.dysailing.org or find us on Instagram and Facebook.