Competition, coaching and fun at BYS Midlands Regional Junior Championships
Young sailors from across the Midlands enjoyed a weekend of competition, coaching and fun at the BYS Regional Junior Championships for the region at Draycote Water Sailing Club.
A range of conditions from 5 to 15 knots of breeze saw more than 70 junior sailors putting their racing skills to the test in the Championship and Regatta fleets or developing their confidence on the water through ‘games with aims’ as part of the OnBoard fleet.
The event on Saturday and Sunday 18-19 June 2022 was one of five British Youth Sailing (BYS) Regional Junior Championships taking place simultaneously around the country, following on from the events for windsurfers the previous weekend.
Tim Hall, RYA Midlands Regional Performance Manager, said: “We had a brilliant mix of sailors across the fleets with lots of OnBoard fun and great coaching for the Regatta fleet sailors while our Championship fleet sailors were fighting it out to be the best in the Midlands.
“We had some pretty tricky, shifty conditions, which at times were quite windy, and at others very light, so the fleets were in and out and had to watch the flags, but there was some really great racing which made it a good spectator sport for parents and everyone on shore.
“A big thank you to the team at Draycote Water for hosting us and to all the coaches. We had 18 different clubs represented and if they could all bring more sailors next year – along with other clubs joining us as well – it will make this fantastic weekend an even bigger and better event. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone next June at Rutland Sailing Club for the 2023 edition!”
Championship fleet
A celebration prizegiving saw trophies, medals and spot prizes awarded and in the Championship fleet for experienced junior sailors, competition was close across a seven-race series.
With the breeze up and down and changing directions there were lots of snakes and ladders requiring quick thinking and tactical decision-making around the racecourse.
In the Championship fleet, the overall results included: Topper: Top three overall and top three girls: 1st Jess Powell (Draycote Water); 2nd Kat Gunn (Notts County), 3rd Clem Middle (Draycote Water); 1st boy Jasper Focardi Dolling (Shropshire); 2nd boy William Mawby-Groom (Banbury); 3rd Oscar Rowe (Draycote Water); Topper 4.2: 1st boy Morris Mellor (Draycote Water); 1st girl Lily Hosty (Swarkestone); RS Feva: 1st Imogen Green/Felicity Angell (Draycote Water); 2nd Olly Hateley/Kyle Timmins (South Staffs); 3rd Theo Smith/Will Cowley (Draycote Water/Midland); Optimist: 1st Tristan Shaw (Banbury); 2nd Noah Byrd (Draycote Water); 3rd William Shaw (Banbury); RS Tera: 1st Alister Casey (Burton); 2nd Jake Sowerby (Burton); 3rd Henry Byrd (Draycote Water).
All the results can be found here.
Regatta Fleet
With coaching in the morning and racing in the afternoon, the Regatta fleet provided an opportunity for aspiring junior sailors from across the region to develop their competition skills. For many it is an ideal stepping stone into championship fleet racing.
Topper Regatta Fleet winner William Shaw, aged 12, of Draycote Water SC, said: "The coaching was friendly and really good and it was a fun weekend! It was great to go sailing and work on my racing technique.”
With 21 entries, the Topper Regatta had some great racing and second overall was Alex Macdonald (Worcestershire) who just edged Peter Astley (Draycote Water) into third on countback.
Regatta Fleet lead coach Kev O’Brien said: “We looked at the personal qualities required to be top sailors alongside the skills needed on the water so they feel confident about going into next year’s championship fleet if they so wish but the main thing is we all had fun. Sailing is all about seeing friends and creating new friendships and we learnt things and developed our sailing along the way.”
For Optimist sailor Amelie Renard (Hollowell/Draycote) and Topper sailor Poppy-Grace Wyles (Rudyard Lake) it was a special reunion – they first met in the OnBoard fleet at last year’s Regional Junior Championships and both entered the Regatta Fleet this time around.
Poppy, aged 10, said: “I had a great time on the water and what I most enjoyed was seeing Amelie!” Mum Clare added: “The Regional Junior Championships have brought two families together and we won’t leave it so long until we see each other again!”
OnBoard Fleet
The OnBoard fleet provided transformational fun activities which saw those who are relatively new to the sport developing their water confidence and their love of sailing.
The weekend saw reluctant helms venturing out of their comfort zone to sail independently. Singlehanded sailors enjoyed learning teamwork in doublehanded boats, while those more used to crewing discovered they could helm. Others pushed through their fears to master the breezier conditions.
Lead coach for the OnBoard fleet was Chloe Kinsella said: “We had a cracking weekend with lots of energy and I think everybody had a great time both on the water and in the water capsizing or splashing around! It was great to see everyone working towards developing the key OnBoard character attributes of communication, determination, teamwork, independence and confidence. I’m really hoping to see everyone again next year either in OnBoard or the Regatta fleet.”
Club Trophy
A close contest for the Club Trophy – awarded for the club with the most entrants across the BYS Midlands Regional Junior Championships for windsurfers at Glossop SC and sailors at Draycote Water SC – was won by Rudyard Lake SC, with 15 sailors across the two events.
Joint second were Glossop SC and Draycote Water SC, with last year’s winner Midland SC third.
Will Whittaker, Commodore of host club Draycote Water SC, said: “It’s been really great to see so many children having fun with their sailing because it’s all about making friends and enjoying the sport. Thank you everyone for coming!”
Regional Training Groups
Aspiring windsurfers across the Midlands and North regions are now invited to apply for the 2022-23 Regional Training Groups, which bring together young sailors for six weekends of on-water coaching plus off-water workshops to develop their racing skills.
Applications for the 2022-23 Regional Training Groups are open and will close on 11 September 2022. Dates and venues are still being finalised but the information so far and as it becomes available can be found here. Find out more about RYA Regional Training Groups and how to apply here.
Save the date!
Next year’s BYS Regional Junior Championships for the Midlands will take place over the weekend of 17-18 June 2023 at Rutland Sailing Club. Save the date and remember to share it with parents and junior sailors at your club or centre!