Ninety five dinghies from Northern Ireland and the Dublin area gathered at Strangford Lough Yacht Club at Whiterock on the western shore of the Strangford Lough for the annual RYA NI Youth Championships last weekend.
Jordan Conway, Charlie O'Malley, and Emily Hill coached a regatta fleet that gave a flavour of big fleet racing. Focusing on drills on Saturday and racing on Sunday, Rafa Cobain won overall.
Topper dinghies ready to launch at the RYANI Youth Championships on a crowded slipway at Strangford Lough YC
The contrasting weather gave the competitors challenging conditions with the two days producing very different scenarios. Saturday failed to have little breeze but was hot and sunny and this coupled with the tidal flow meant that the three to four knots of breeze at the start of Race 1 dropping to five knots airs reduced racing considerably. The forecast stronger breeze for Day 2 gave hope to the fleet as they eagerly launched in 11 – 14 knots.
RS Fevas and Toppers in light conditions at the RYANI Youth Championship on Strangford Lough Photo: Simon McIlwaine
The ILCAs were first to start and as they powered up the first beat their race was abandoned. The wind gradually increased to 16-20 knots for the second race and the squalls made the down winds legs exhilarating. Those conditions persisted making it a hard day for all sailors and rescue crews with t at least one broken mast. To add to the excitement the wind against the incoming tide for races 2-3 made it challenging with the short chop and swell building to a meter or more.
RYANI Youth Championships Anna Catherine Carson Wilson from the host club was runner up in the Optimist class Photo Simon McIlwaine
The huge Championship fleet raced in eight classes: 29er, ILCA 4,6 and 7, RS Feva, Optimist, Topper 5.3 and 4.2. The 29ers had just three starters and in that class, it was a sailover by East Down's Jacob Ozarek and Abbie Stocking. In the ILCA 4 Emily McAfee (BYC) dominated with three firsts as did Oliver Gunderson of the host club in the Optimists. And Calum Pollard of County Antrim BC did the same in the Topper 5.3 with Leo West-Hurst from Ballyholme counting a first, second and third to win the Topper 4.2s.
Emily McAfee of Ballyholme YC (21381) was the winner of the ILCA 4s at the RYANI Youth Championships Photo: Simon McIlwaine
With four competitors still classed as Youths who have graduated to the ILCA 7, the winner there was Tom Coulter of East Antrim BC. Emily and Annabel Ridout dominated the RS Feva division from Ballyholme. In that class all but two competitors were given 11 points (NSC) each for Race 1 as they failed to sail the correct course. Daniel Palmer topped ILCA 6 with four points.
Sullivan Upper School in Holywood Co Down won the Schools' prize and the Club prize went to Ballyholme.
RYANI Youth Championships from left to right Abbie Stocking and Jakob Ozarek 29er class winners, Charlie Stocking and Alannah Kelly RS Feva runners up, all from East Down YC Photo: courtesy EDYC
RYANI CEO Greg Yarnell commented "We hope people will use this event to gain confidence and to go out and experience osther event across Ireland and the UK".
RYANI Youth Championships RS Feva competitors: (from left to right) Charlie Stocking, Allanah Kelly, Annabel Ridout, Emily Ridout, Sally Nixon, Jessica Dadley Young. Photo: courtesy EDYC
