Derbyshire Youth Sailing at Glossop Sailing Club
by Joanne Hill 19 Jun 05:05 NZST
15 June 2024
It really is shaping up to be an amazing year for our Derbyshire Youth Sailors. Just over half way through the season, with 6 events already taken place, and we have 6 different winners, it really is all to play for now.
Our first event at Toddbrook bought cool, heavy winds and a win for Patrick Hill in his ILCA 6. Burton followed suit with good winds and a win for S Baines in her Topper, Errwood bought very challenging conditions where even the wind sock didn't know which way to point, but this didn't deter A Baines in her ILCA 6 for her 1st ever DYS win. Ogston delivered a home win for Luke Wiltshire is his ILCA 7, with George Jacobs also gaining a first at his club, Combs SC.
Thinking we couldn't possibly have yet another winner we headed to Glossop SC last Saturday, where thankfully there was enough water to race. With the winds already set to brisk and forecast to increase, two races were set before lunch. Conditions were very challenging, not only for the sailors but also for the shore crew to watch. The first gybe near to the club house proved to be an ideal place to practice a capsize manoeuvrer, but for others it was an opportunity to plane down to the finish line, some boats making full use of the gusts to surf past their fellow sailors.
Lunch was a noisy affair, with lots of tales of adventures, successes and a few mishaps. Shore crews and fellow sailors listened whilst assessing damage and shared tips and advice before returning to the water for race 3.
Despite an eventful second race where the National 12 sustained some damage, it was good to see the team still smiling and heading out for race 3. As predicted, the gusts became stronger, making conditions even harder, but all credit to our young sailors who persevered as far as they could. Throughout the day there were some incredible battles within the ILCA and Topper Fleet, with places being swapped continuously, Patrick and Jacob Bennet shared finishing first on the water, but overall it was local sailor Reuben Lawrance who took a well deserved win in his Topper.
Our sailors have a few weeks rest now until we head to Trent Valley Sailing Club on 29th June, our only venue which is on a river, we've seen light winds over the past few years for this event, but who knows what we will get this time round.
Congratulations to all of our sailors who have taken part so far, it has been a pleasure to see the season unfold.
If you would like to know more about joining DYS please visit our website www.dysailing.org. There you can also read about bursaries we can offer new junior sailors, in partnership with Foundation Derbyshire.