RYA Youth National Championships and Trials

by RYA on 14 Apr 2006 On the penultimate day of racing at the RYA Youth National Championships and Trials all fleets got out on the water, but as the wind built to an average 25 knots, race organisers were forced to send competitors back to the shore after the majority of classes completed one race.

By the afternoon, further racing in the Laser, Laser Radial silver fleet, 29er, 420, Hobie 16 and RS:X fleets was postponed; however the Laser Radial gold fleet was sent back out as the wind slowly began to ease off.

The RS:X sailors got in two solid races in the harbour but the second race proved a challenge for some of the younger racers. Beth Williamson, who remains in the lead in the girls' fleet, pulled off a gutsy second race in the building breeze and was the first girl to zoom across the finish line.

'It was really good racing out there this morning,' a grinning Beth explained. 'It was quite breezy and a bit scary downwind but I just held on tight and made it across the finish line. I really got going and was just flying across the course.'

The 420's completed one race which saw Sophie Weguelin and Katrina Hughes slip out of first and into second after Richard Mason and Daniel Schieber earned a second place finish moving them back into first overall.

It was a no-sail day for the 29er's who made it out into the harbour before being turned around and set back to dry land as conditions became more extreme.

The top three in the Laser fleet remained unchanged after today's race. Max Holloway remains at the top with 18 points followed by Dyfrig Mon in second and Evan Scott in third.

Hobie sailors, Richard and Andrew Glover, currently lead the fleet but continue to battle for the top slot with Tom Phipps and Sam Newton. With only two points separating the two teams there is still everything thing to play for

The Laser Radial fleet split into gold and silver flights with the silver fleet completing one race and the gold fleet completing three. The Radial golds were the only fleet to race in the afternoon, not coming off the water until after 1800.

Competitors from the Radial fleet carried their net points from the qualifying series into today's racing. Eifion Mon managed to unseat David Jessop from the top slot by securing a first and two seconds. Tomorrow Eifion will don the yellow jersey.

In the girls fleet Anna Dobson and Sarah Williams continued to battle it out with Sarah Williams beginning to close the gap moving from third into second in the girl's fleet.

Tomorrow is an important day for the selection committee as they will have to decide which sailors will go on to represent Great Britain at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship 2006.

'It will be a really hard decision,' RYA Youth Racing Manager and selector Simon Wergan explained. 'We have seen some top talent and a high standard of competition throughout the event. We are looking for sailors that will be able to medal at an international level and want to make the right calls.'

Racing continues through to Friday 14 April.

Further results and event information www.ryaevents.org.uk/youthnationals