YHYSA Trident-UK Youth at Huddersfield Sailing Club
by Adrienne Benson 6 Apr 2004 02:13 PDT
Kayleigh & Eloise Hansen during the Yorkshire and Humberside Trident UK Youth Travellers at Huddersfield © Jonathan Lister
Saturday 3rd April goes down as one of the most challenging events hosted on this series. First, the pond wasn’t very big. Second, 28 entrants turned up in a range of craft from Mirror to RS600 (which wisely didn’t go afloat). Finally, a cold, wet and blustery day made the start of the 2004 series memorable, if only for the lack of boats remaining upright.
The first start was a complete disaster with all the competitors sailing the wrong course. The excited parents watched in disbelief at close quarters as their offspring rounded mark number one (20 feet off the bank) the wrong way and could say nothing. The Race Officer coolly analysed the situation and abandoned the race which was re-sailed by a decimated fleet over a fresh triangular course with only one gybe. The levels of carnage were maintained and the gallant parents, helpers and sundry fishermen spent a merry time rescuing boats and youngsters off the reservoir wall.
Overlong mainsheets contributed to some interesting gybes from the Toppers and there were some spectacular aquabatics including nose diving and pitchpoling 420s. The few that completed all three races left the club justly proud of themselves as did all those who ventured out on the water and came up smiling no matter what.
Overall Results:
1st Anthony Murray, Ogston, Topper
2nd Will Crossley, Scammonden, Topper
3rd Kayleigh and Eloise Hansen, Covenham, Mirror