2016 Youths – Photo credit: Sarah Crabtree

How can we make Woody’s boat go quicker? Photo credit: Sarah Crabtree

Event Report

A wet Saturday in Worcestershire greeted the youths from clubs as far away as Penzance, Looe, West Lancs, Bolton and Hykeham to a couple of local boats from Midland SC and the home club, Barnt Green.

Race 1

In the first race Ben & Gabe Hill from West Lancs YC & Bolton SC, Thomas Kliskey & Becca Stephens from Penzance SC and Esther Bowdler & Joe Jackman from Looe SC were all over at the start. Only two of them went back to re-start with Esther & Joe not realising and continuing to finish with an OCS. Matt Smith & George Crabtree from Midland SC led at the 1^st mark, having been the last boat to cross the start line. Robin Jones & Joshua Haynes from Hykeham SC were 2^nd and Esther & Joe 3^rd. On the following run Esther & Joe gybed out to the middle of the course but Emma Coleman & Aimee Allsopp from Midland SC managed to pass them. The 2^nd lap saw Matt & George increase their lead from Robin & Joshua with Ben & Gabe moving up to 3^rd. Robin & Joshua and Ben & Gabe battled on a run with Emma & Aimee close behind. At the leeward mark Ben & Gabe took 2^nd from Robin & Joshua. On the 3^rd and 4^th laps Tom & Becca fought hard with Emma & Aimee with Tom & Becca eventually gaining 4^th place. On the 5^th lap Ben & Gabe put pressure on Matt & George downwind, closing them down to 3 boat lengths. On the final lap the beat saw things hot up with Ben & Gabe picking the wind shifts perfectly to gain the lead. They won by several boat lengths from Matt & George. Tom & Becca closed down on Robin & Joshua on the last leg to the finish line. Robin & Joshua held their nerve to finish 3^rd with Tom & Becca 4^th.

Photo credit: Sarah Crabtree

Race 2

After an excellent lunch, race 2 started on a new course and in drier weather. Esther & Joe made the best start followed by Ben & Gabe. A crowded windward mark saw Robin & Joshua round 1^st followed by Ben & Gabe with Esther & Joe in 3^rd, Matt & George 4^th and Tom & Becca 5^th. Ben & Gabe took the lead at the next mark, followed by Esther & Joe with Matt & George 3^rd. On the next beat Matt & George pulled up to 2^nd place. Ben & Gabe continued to lead down the run with Matt & George 2^nd and Esther & Joe 3^rd. A lap later Matt & George applied pressure to Ben & Gabe to catch them downwind, close to the leeward mark. However, Ben & Gabe held out to round this mark 1^st. On the following beat Matt & George continued to apply the pressure. Ben & Gabe pulled out a small lead on the next reach but Matt & George caught them up again. Esther & Joe remained in 3^rd with Tom & Becca in 4^th close behind. Ben & Gabe won this race easily. On the final run Esther & Joe and Tom & Becca both challenged Matt & George who held their nerve to finish 2^nd, with Esther & Joe 3^rd and Tom & Becca 4^th.

Photo credit: Sarah Crabtree

Race 3

After a short tea and cake break, race 3 started in the strongest wind of the day, a good force 3 to 4. Esther & Joe made another excellent start. Close to the windward mark Matt & George made full use of a wind shift to cross ahead of Ben & Gabe to round the mark first, with Tom & Becca 3^rd. Positions were held on the reach but on the following beat Ben & Gabe took a better line to round the following windward mark in the lead. Positions remained the same on the run with the 1^st lap ending with Ben & Gabe 1^st, Matt & George in 2^nd and Tom & Becca in 3^rd. On the second lap, whilst in 2^nd place, Matt & George hit mark 8, the resulting penalty turn saw both Tom & Becca and Robin & Joshua overtake, dropping them to 4^th place. On the next beat some very close racing saw Matt & George improve to 3^rd place and hold this position to the mark. Ben & Gabe increased their lead with the four following boats bunched together some distance behind. Excellent sailing on the following beat saw some very close racing with several place changes. As the wind increased Tom & Becca moved up to 2^nd with Robin & Joshua 3^rd, Matt & George 4^th and Esther & Joe 5^th. Later Matt & George overtook Robin & Joshua on a beat to regain 3^rd. Ben & Gabe won their 3^rd race of the day. Tom & Becca finished 2^nd a few lengths behind. 3^rd was Matt & George with Robin & Joshua 4^th.

Sunday dawned dry with lighter winds.

Race 4

The first race of the day started on a new course. Matt & George started at the committee boat end with Ben & Gabe further down the line. Esther & Joe rounded the windward mark 1^st with Ben & Gabe 2^nd, Matt & George 3^rd and Robin & Joshua 4^th. Positions remained the same down the run and also on the planing reach. On the following run Ben & Gabe applied the pressure but Esther & Joe held on to retain the lead. Esther & Joe continued to lead on the 3^rd lap with both Ben & Gabe and Matt & George now very close behind. The next beat was very tactical, this time Ben & Gabe snatched the lead at the windward mark and held that to the end. At the leeward mark Matt & George overtook Esther & Joe, however, on the following beat Esther & Joe passed them again to regain 2^nd place. These three boats remained very close for some time. Robin & Joshua and Tom & Becca were battling hard for 4^th place and closing the distance with the leading pack. Ben & Gabe then increased their lead over the next two laps, from Esther & Joe in 2^nd and Matt & George in 3^rd. After 6 laps Ben & Gabe won comfortably with Esther & Joe narrowly retaining 2^nd place with a last minute challenge from Matt & George in 3^rd. Tom & Becca finished 4^th just ahead of Robin & Joshua.

Race 5

Matt & George started with a 720 penalty before the start line after an incident with Robin & Joshua. Tom & Becca approached the starboard rounding windward mark on port but it was Ben & Gabe who rounded 1^st on a starboard approach. At the start of the second lap Ben & Gabe continued to lead with Tom & Becca 2^nd and Esther & Joe 3^rd with Adam Titchem & Edward Onions from Barnt Green SC 4^th. By the start of the 3^rd lap Matt & George had recovered to 4^th after their bad start. Ben & Gabe increased their lead, however, Esther & Joe were still in contention. On the 4^th lap Matt & George challenged Tom & Becca on the reach. On the following beat Matt & George gained 3^rd place with Robin & Joshua still close behind. Ben & Gabe eventually won their 5^th race comfortably from Esther & Joe in 2^nd place. Tom & Becca snatched 3^rd place by inches, closing fast in a photo finish with Matt & George 4^th.

The winners, Ben and Gabe Hill. Photo credit: Sarah Crabtree

There was no doubt as to the winners. Ben and Gabe Hill won every race! Ben also won the first helm under 21 prize. The Lady Helm trophy was won by Esther Bowdler crewed by Joe Jackman, who won the prize for first under 15 competitor. Emma Coleman won the prize for first Helm under 18 and the Old Boat trophy was won by Robin Jones and Joshua Haynes.

The host club, Barnt Green Sailing Club, treated us to a lovely curry on the Saturday night and very nice lunches and cake both days. Many thanks to the Commodore, Mike, Vice Commodore Rob, OD, Bob and all the other volunteer helpers and galley crew for running a very efficient event.

Finally, a big thank you to our title sponsor of the event, Noble Marine.

Report by Paul Young