NSSA Double Handed Team Racing Championships at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
by Fiona Spence 29 Mar 22:51 PDT
21-22 March 2026
Derbyshire Blue deliver determined win at NSSA Double Handed Team Racing Championships
Question: What do you get if you mix 116 sailors in 29 teams from 15 different organisations from across the country, 24 boats, 9 RIBS, 300 lunches and over 70 volunteers in stunning scenery and sunshine for the weekend?
Answer: Competitive team racing, friendship, fun and camaraderie and a lot of smiles at the National School Sailing Association (NSSA) Double Handed Team Racing Championships which were held at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club (YDSC) on 21 & 22 March 2026.
The event was hosted by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and was run in Fireflys and Fevas. The fireflies were loaned by York University & Leeds University, NEYYSA is pleased to support and partner these universities in an ongoing & developing relationship. The Fevas were loaned by Ripon SC, YDSC, Windermere School & Sedbergh School. NEYYSA is grateful for the ongoing support of all regional clubs and organisations that allows these large events to run. The Feva flights used team racing sails loaned by Rutland SC and the third flight sported NEYYSA team racing jibs previously funded by the Eric Twiname Trust.
NEYYSA is passionate about supporting & promoting regional youth & junior sailing but is also fully committed to developing the next generation of volunteers to ensure continuity in the region; every event role had an experienced lead with a rolling rotation of volunteers to upskill and share knowledge. Our thanks to everyone who stepped up to assist over the weekend.
The event proudly delivered a full roster of north region core event team members with 60% female representation in the lead event roles, with NEYYSA Chair Fiona Spence as Event Director, Imogen Gibb taking the racing lead as PRO and Natasha de la Fuente as Chief Umpire alongside a host of experienced female water team members from many clubs. Supporting the core team was a small army of volunteers from YDSC, team volunteers and NEYYSA. The event had 8 umpires on the water plus a newly qualified U18 umpire in support.
Racing got under way slightly later than intended on Saturday morning as the wind unusually failed to materialise at YDSC. Sailors made the most of the postponement by catching up with each other, eating cake (a NEYYSA standard if we're honest!), consuming the galley's entire weekend stock of hot chocolate and generally enjoying the social benefits of team racing surrounded by the fantastic Yorkshire Dales scenery which can be viewed from every angle of the club clubhouse and grounds. The team managers, parents & spectators did the same!
Racing finally got under way at 11am and the 13 team Feva competition got stuck in straight away. Start boat lead Lucy Smith (aged 8), ably assisted by Naomi Smith knocked out races as fast as possible given the tricky conditions and the mark layers and umpire boats were kept busy moving marks all day to accommodate the shifts. By the end of the day 28 races had been completed which was low by normal standards but reflected the difficult wind conditions. Overnight Rutland Ospreys led with NEYYSA mINEOS snapping at their heels with a 4 way tie for 3rd place between Lancashire Youth Sailing (LYS) Cadets, Royal Hospital (RHS) Orange, NEYYSA Boreas and YDSC Younguns. The event had a full-time commentator providing helpful and knowledgeable information about what was happening out on the water which many supporters enjoyed listening to.
In the 16 strong Firefly competition, several teams were in with a chance of the top slot and the top teams went out fighting right from the start too and course lead Lindsay Welfare was kept busy adjusting the course to make the most of the wind. RHS Grey have just moved into the Firefly competition and put in a good display all weekend, whilst they didn't win the overall top spot they did get the finish boat's prize for best joke. By the end of the day 36 races had been sailed and NEYYSA Natives and NEYYSA Nomads along with Clifton College were challenging leaders Derbyshire Blue for the top spot. Lower down the results table, new to team racing NEYYSA Dolphins had managed a race win whilst LYS Sentinel & Sedbergh School, Derbyshire Green had all had a tough day in the office learning the team racing ropes.
After racing, YDSC's galley served an evening meal for 116 people, after a short after dinner de-brief and Q&A from the young umpires from Sheffield & Newcastle Universities a round of the ever-popular disco bingo closed out the day before everyone headed to bed.
Sunday morning dawned colder than Saturday with a stronger westerly wind. Sailors who had camped overnight recounted tales of frozen tent zips and wearing clothes in bed but were soon warmed and ready for racing after bacon sandwiches from the galley. The sailors launched promptly for a 9.15am start and racing re-commenced with all to play for. Given the shortage of races on Saturday due to the wind, the SIs were amended to continue with the HLS for the rest of the day.
A full day of racing on the Feva course meant the HLS competition was concluded with Rutland Ospreys at the top, closely followed by RHS Orange and NEYYSA mINEOS in 3rd. The Firefly course completed 100 races in the 120 race HLS competition with Derbyshire Blue dropping one race to take the event from NEYYSA Natives, with NEYYSA Nomads in 3rd and Rutland Rebels battling back up from their 9th position overnight to take 4th from RHS Grey and Clifton College.
Additional to the front of the fleet high quality team racing, it was fantastic to see so many new to or less experienced team racing sailors participating at this event. LYS Sentinels delivered 4 race wins on Sunday and Sedbergh School and Derbyshire Green started to get the hang of team racing to deliver a race win each too.
Most inspiring was the friendship and sporting camaraderie between the sailors, a Derbyshire Green sailor jumped in to assist Dolphins when one of their team suffered a recurring knee injury towards the end of the event, more experienced sailors helped explain tactics, rules and strategy and everyone contributed to the pack up at the end of the weekend. Several members of the event team commented how refreshing it was to see teams congratulate each other at the finish line and return to the starting area chatting between boats and teams. Team racing is a social sport and the next generation is embracing this exciting form of competitive sailing.
An event of this scale cannot happen without the vast number of volunteers prior to, during and after the event. A massive thank you to everyone who made the event happen, a particular thank you to K-Sail who again supported the event remotely with sage advice and counsel and to YDSC who stepped in at short notice to host the event after the planned venue had to withdraw. The Yorkshire welcome, friendly members and amazing catering certainly contributed to a memorable event. All volunteers were presented with a thank you gift of Yorkshire tea & biscuits and a NEYYSA mug!
Overall Results:
Firefly Gold
1 Derbyshire Blue
2 NEYYSA Natives
3 NEYYSA Nomads
Firefly Silver
1 Elton Sorcerers
2 NEYYSA Knights
3 Derbyshire Yellow
Firefly Bronze
1 LYS Sentinel
2 Worcestershire Youth Sailing Assoc
3 NEYYSA Dolphins
Feva Gold
1 Rutland Ospreys
2 RHS Orange
3 NEYYSA mINEOS
Feva Silver
1 Windermere Wonders
2 Elton Wizards
3 Otley Red Devils
Full Results: