Bowles & Masters vie for RYA Volvo Youth Nationals supremacy at Largs

by Karenza Morton on 15 Apr 2009
The battle for windsurfing supremacy is hotting up as George Bowles and Ali Masters sit neck and neck in pole position after day two of the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships and Trials at Largs Sailing Club. With blustery, wet conditions testing the sailors to the max, it was 16-year-old Bowles from Brigg that enjoyed the best return from Tuesday's three RS:X races to ensure that 2008 European RS:X Youth silver medallist Masters was not going to have everything his own way in the Youth Nationals gold quest.

With Masters, 17, heading the overnight leaderboard, Bowles posted scores of 2, 2, 1 to Masters’ 3, 1, 2 to put them level on nine points apiece after five races.

However, Bowles, who only stepped up to the RS:X board from the smaller Bic Techno last September, is not getting carried away by his early regatta success.

He said: 'I’m definitely really pleased with the way things have gone so far; my goal for the week was just to try to do the basics right. It was very gusty today and my consistency is probably the thing that’s pleased me most so far and that’s what I’ll be looking to carry on for the rest of the week.

'My first event on the RS:X board was only last September so I have surpassed my expectations after the first two days but we’re not even halfway through yet and there is still a long week ahead.'

With Skandia Team GBR star and double World and Olympic champion Sarah Ayton surveying the courses on selector duty, Holsworthy’s Izzy Hamilton, 16, boasts a comfortable lead in the girls’ RS:X courtesy of her 4, 3, 3 today. Claudia Carney, who sat just a point behind Hamilton after day one suffered with an on-course side (OCS) call against her today to fall behind Sophie Bailey who now sits in second.

Unfortunately 2007 RYA Youth National champion Kirsten O’Callaghan’s event could be over after she sustained a serious looking calf injury in the opening race of today.

The Laser Radials enjoyed an action-packed day, cramming in four races to complete their six race qualifying series before they split into Gold and Silver fleets from tomorrow.

Falmouth’s 2008 Laser 4.7 Under 15 World Champion David Grant, who at 14 is one of the youngest sailors in the fleet, tops the pile just a point ahead of his 16-year-old brother James, the defending RYA Youth National champion, in second. Both Grant boys were grateful for the discard applying for the Radials after four races, David losing a 27th and James a 31st to assert their authority at the top.

Independent sailor 13-year-old Hannah Tilley, from Monmouthshire, is leading the girls’ class, tied on same points as 2008 Youth Nationals silver medallist Sarah Butterfield.

There were also four races for the hardy 29ers sailing on the same course as the windsurfers. Three bullets for Anglesey’s Bleddyn Mon and Nick Redding, from Didcot, saw them consolidate their lead in the boys’ 29er while Max Richardson and Alex Groves recovered well from an ultimately discarded opening race OCS to score 2, 2, 3 and move into second.

There is all to race for in the girls’ event with Tadcaster pair Lilly Carlisle and Becky Wallbank and Warsash’s Becky Diamond and Fiona Hampshire, from West Horsley, tied on level points after six races.

The Laser Standard was turned on its head as overnight leaders Phil Reynolds and Alex Mills-Barton were both disqualified from race four enabling West Mersea’s 2008 Worlds silver medallist Martin Evans, 17, to capitalise with a 3,1,1 return and leap into the top spot.

James Spencer moved into second but with the discard coming in after the next race both Reynolds and Mills-Barton will be looking to get their title push back on track by discounting their disqualifications.

Christchurch’s Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton, from Guildford, tightened their grip on the 420 boys’ event following up yesterday’s double bullet with a 1, 2, 2 to lead second-placed Ben Palmer and Konrad Weaver by 23 points. Gratton’s 14-year-old younger brother Tim and crew Ed Riley, 15, sit impressively in third on their RYA Volvo Youth Nationals debut.

Consistency has seen Amy Seabright, from Romford, and Poole’s Katrina Brewer edge ahead in the race for the girls’ 420 title, the pair posting 8, 8, 5 today to lead Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp by three points.

Racing resumes tomorrow with the first warning signal scheduled for 10.55am with HRH The Princess Royal in attendance at the event tomorrow.