Youth Sailing Academy Talented Sailor Squad - End of Squad Regatta

by Pam Scrivenor on 1 Jul 2009 Not a good day to put all those skills to the test.

Another light weather day greeted the Youth Sailing Academy Talented Sailor Squad for their End of Squad Regatta on Sunday. With six races planned for the day, everything was in place to kick off at 1100. There were sailors, parents, grandparents, race committee and the barbecue ready, the only thing missing was some breeze.

Six crews took to the water with a light 5-8 knot westerly allowing a practise spinnaker run to the start boat, set up in Double Bay. As racing got underway, the breeze was very light and patchy, making it difficult for the squad to put the season’s lessons into play. Unfortunately we were only able to get four of the six races completed before the breeze disappeared completely and the barbecue called.

With the scoreboard showing tied results at the top after three races and the breeze fading, race four was going to be the decider. A more aggressive start by the teams saw a couple of protest flags produced and the race committee had to hold the results until these protests could be conducted.

Coaches, Evan Walker and Sean O’Rourke, heard the protests which resulted in two disqualifications and a penalty point being given, effecting the scores of three different teams. With close scores at the end of racing and one drop allowed, the protest results impacted on the final placings.

Eventually everyone gathered for the presentation barbecue and celebration of the end of this squad for the season. The majority of these sailors will now return to their dinghy clubs for the summer season and take with them some keel boat experience, team skills (many being Laser and Sabot sailors) and a greater knowledge of the rule book. We hope to see them back again next year for another winter season at the YSA.

Results of the End of Squad Regatta:
1st James Vandervoort, Sam Ellis, Matt Mayall and Lachlan Alexander-Dawson
2nd Greta Quealy, Tayla Linnegar and Margot Fox
3rd Josh Linnagar, Harry Banks and Kathryn Wotherspoon
4th Matt Kearns, Jack Dawson and Andrew Dixson
5th Andrew Clark, Hamish Poole and Kurt Hansen
6th Toma McQuillan, Ed Whitelock, Jen Pagett and Caitlin Tames