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TRIUMPH FOR DRAYCOTE’S YOUTH AND JUNIOR SAILORS
Junior and youth sailors were once again victorious at Draycote Water Sailing Club's Inter-Fleet Championship repeating the success of their team at last years inaugural event.
More than 100 club members of all ages took part, sailing Picos, Laser Vagos and Fireflys, with the clubs younger members favoured by light winds and lots of on-the-water skills and tactics.
With the best results over a series of 35 races, they beat club members in five other fleets to win the trophy with 101 points, ahead of the Fireball fleet in second with 106 points, and the Flying Fifteens in third with 115 points, followed by the Solo, Miracle and Menagerie fleets.
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Other prizes awarded on the day were:-
Junior activities:
Collection of ballooons: Chris, Joan & Jess 43 points
Special prize: Becky and Holly 17 points
Junior Fun Run
1st Will Field
2nd Davy Elfring
3rd Philip Dickenson
Special prize for youngest competitor Abbie Hewitt
Tiny Tots Fun Run
1st Jack Lewis
2nd Izzy Hughes
3rd Fergus Pye
4th Katherine Byne
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Draycote Water is now seeing the rewards of its efforts to encourage youngsters into the sport. It has a Saturday youth club and parents have also run short course racing on Sundays throughout winter. A number of the clubs young sailors are in the RYA’s regional and national squads.
The Inter-Fleet Championship was held instead of the clubs usual Sunday racing and was combined with a day of family entertainment which also included a stilt-walking juggler, a circus skills workshop, on-the-water games, and have-a-go sailing, canoe, windsurfing and Dragon boat sessions.
Fleet teams wore coloured bibs and had a minimum of 10 sailors but no maximum, so anyone could jump in and have a sail on the day. With races lasting no more than 15 minutes, a running scoreboard and plenty of encouragement from spectators lining the shore, competition was fast, furious and fun.
Club member Malcolm Lewin, one of the organizers, said: “It was a beautiful sunny day with a perfect wind which brought out a huge number of people, and with 35 races a grand time was had by everyone. It seems as though this event is now going to become an annual fixture!”
The event was sponsored by Draycote Waters windsurf and sailing chandlery OnBoard. Co-sponsoring the event were Laser and local specialist dinghy repairers Branfibre. The event was also supported by Rugby School, Rugby Canoe Club, Warwick University and Coventry Dragonboat Club
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