Derbyshire youth sailors getting ready for the season ahead

Sailors from Derbyshire Youth Sailing in June last year © Desmond Luxton

When the opportunity to practice and train ahead of the racing season is presented to the young sailors of Derbyshire, then they certainly commit themselves with vigour. Despite the cold weather, there is no lack of enthusiasm for getting in their boats and working hard to develop and perfect their skills, at all levels and ages.

The next training session is being held in the North of the county at Combs Sailing Club on Saturday 9th March and will be led by Coach Richard Rawson of Peak Dinghy Spares Ltd., the DYS series sponsors for 2013. Richard will be helping the sailors to work on key aspects of their chosen sport and leading them through a series of activities that will be challenging their fitness and capabilities. Richard raced in several DYS series some years ago and is an RYA trained instructor, so he is well qualified and experienced to help teach today's competitors.

Carsington Sailing Club hosted the first training session of the pre-season period which was extremely well attended and well received by the sailors. The light wind conditions were perfect for helping the sailors to learn to extend their concentration, so that they can maximise their boat speed and make the most of what little wind there can often be.

When the sailors are faced with weather conditions at the lower end of the thermometer, they put on insulating clothes under specialist sailing dry suits that keep them very cosy. They also pull on thick gloves and a variety of warm headwear. Often the sailors return to shore after hours afloat and report that they were too hot as they had to work so hard, but their beaming smiles show how much fun they still had.

DYS Training Co-ordinator, volunteer Des Luxton, noted "With many of the sailors eager to get out onto the racing circuit and start competing at events, their calendars and diaries for this year are already full of commitments for the season".

The Derbyshire Youth Sailing Peak Dinghy Spares 2013 Series consists of ten events held at the Derbyshire sailing clubs and there will also be DYS teams going to the national events organised by the National Schools Sailing Association. This year's national events include team racing in Oxford and a week long national regatta at Bassenthwaite in the Lake District.

Des continued "Some of our sailors will be travelling not only extensively around the UK, but will also be going overseas to represent themselves and as members of Team GB squads, to compete in international regattas".

There are plenty of opportunities for young sailors these days and the sailing clubs in Derbyshire each provide Royal Yachting Association (RYA) approved training to teach them how to sail. To compete in DYS events, sailors need to have mastered control of their boat to be able to complete a simple triangular racing course and have access to their own boat, or one leased or borrowed from a club. DYS has two lease boats as well which are very popular.

DYS events are open to all school age sailors who are members of a Derbyshire Sailing Club or attend a Derbyshire School. (The youngest competitors have started racing at the age of six / seven). The volunteers at DYS events will also provide some guidance before and during the racing for those attending their first few events to help them achieve their best.

If young sailors want to attend the Combs training session, then they should visit the DYS website at www.dysailing.co.uk to check the details and pre-register. If they need any information before they attend, or just to find out more then use the website and the contact details to get in touch.