NSSA (National School Sailing Association) Double Handed Team Racing at Draycote Water Sailing Club
by Merryn Attridge 27 Mar 22:45 PDT
18-19 March 2023
NSSA Double Handed Team Racing at Draycote Water © Darren Clarke
On the 18th March, 100 sailors (25 teams), travelled to Draycote Water Sailing Club to compete in a weekend of team racing organised by the NSSA. The event was sponsored by Fernhurst Books.
Team Racing is an exciting form of sailing. At the event, sailors competed as a 2 boat team racing against another 2 boat team, using their knowledge of the rules of sailing to out manoeuvre the other team. The nature of team racing means races are short and at the end of day one, 14 Teams of Firefly Sailors and 11 teams of Feva sailors had competed in over 110 races. After a day of perfect racing conditions, Rutland A in the Feva Group were undefeated with a 100% win record. Closely followed by Claires Court and Royal Hospital School -Blue with only 1 loss each. In the Fireflys, Royal Hospital School -Grey led overnight, closely followed by Rutland B and West Oxford A.
Day 2 saw more racing in the morning, then in the afternoon it was the semi-finals and then finals. Unfortunately, the weather which had been perfect all weekend, took that moment for the wind to drop, making sailing conditions difficult. Royal Hospital School Grey and Royal Hospital School Purple were joint third in the Fireflys and Bolton A and Royal Hospital School Blue in the Fevas.
In the finals, results were shared, Rutland A won the Regatta (Feva) trophy beating Claires Court A and in the Fireflys Claires Court B won against Rutland B. Congratulations to the teams from both Rutland Sailing Club and Claires Court School Outdoor Education for some excellent racing.
The sailors would like to thank Draycote Water for hosting and Fernhurst Books for their sponsorship. If your club or school would like to get involved in team racing, the NSSA Single Handed Team Racing will take place on the 14th and 15th October at Bartley Sailing Club.