GJW Direct SailFest - Outstanding achievement of local youngsters

by Brenda Hoult on 11 Sep 2014 Sienna Adderley and Luke Doble were amongst those competing at GJW Direct SailFest at Calshot over the August Bank Holisday weekend, sailing their Feva in their first foray beyond the shelter of Southampton Water.

They took part in every race throughout the action-packed weekend and even took the opportunity to expand their skills by swapping their helm and crew positions, unprompted, when informal racing took over from the regatta competition. GJW Direct's Glen Wallis, across from the insurance company's local Hamble office, was watching their progress throughout the weekend and was in no doubt about awarding the GJW Direct Outstanding Achievement Award to the tenacious pair.

Sienna, fourteen, and Luke, fifteen, represented Active Nation's Team SWAC (Southampton Water Activities Centre) and competed in every race to finish 19th overall. They were amongst the youngest sailors taking part and were up against more experienced competitors in a wide variety of boats. Luke and Sienna are both studying for their GCSEs and since coming to SWAC they have progressed through the RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme. They first competed in a regatta against a local sailing club in October 2013 where they brought home first place – their sailing career started there. Sports Development Leader at SWAC, Max Badbury-Knight, who is rightly proud of them both, said 'The enthusiasm that they brought to every day and the help from their friends and family was brilliant.'

Sienna and Luke's next event takes place in 10 days time, when SWAC will be providing the safety crew and launch base for the British Marine Federation (BMF)'s 'Battle of the Classes' Race at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday 21st September, the last day of the show. The race will be the BMF National Boat Shows' contribution to participation in the massive Bart's Bash event, taking place worldwide on that day, and will be run by the team from Burnham's Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

Two boats are invited to represent each dinghy class - entry is free and includes a ticket to the boat show for each sailor. Registration should be completed here, where further details can be found. The winner of the Battle of the Classes will be presented with a brand new RS Tera dinghy at the prize giving at the SWAC stand, after the race.