Open Youth Regatta at Netley Sailing Club

Close quarter action during the Netley Open Youth Regatta © Ian Parry

Back in the dinghy racing golden years, one of the highlights of the season on Southampton Water was when all the local clubs descended on one location for a day of 'all together' racing. Without having to do anything more strenuous that sail a little bit further to the start line, club racers enjoyed some big fleet competition, often against top flight teams. Sadly, the boom years for the Southampton Water Sailing Association are a thing of the past (though racing is still held, albeit in much reduced circumstances).

However, the concept was simply too good to be consigned to history, so with a slightly different take on the idea, Netley Sailing Club invited the youth sailors from clubs bordering on Southampton Water to join their home grown sailors in an Open Youth Regatta Day. Such a good idea deserved a better start that the forecasts gave, as the previous day's predictions were borne out by a morning of strong winds and the occasional shower. As the forecast had been spot on so far, it was hoped that the promise of sunshine and slightly less wind in the afternoon would materialise. Things looked promising enough for boats to be launched from the Hamble River; these had to sail out between the two oil jetties that define the entrance to Southampton Water, before being able to head for the beach and a warm welcome at the host club.

The schedule called for three races, the first two back to back, then a break for hot food, before a longer final race. In the final minutes of the countdown to the first start, the decision to go afloat started to look as if it was the wrong one, as a new cloud line heralded a sudden and significant increase in the wind strength. This increase caught out some of the more adventurous starters, who found themselves pushing over the line with 15 seconds to go, yet all would return and start correctly.

Despite the conditions, the starts were hotly contested, often with real competitive flair during the Netley Open Youth Regatta - photo © Ian Parry

Despite the conditions, the starts were hotly contested, often with real competitive flair. This set the pattern for the whole day; the wind would suddenly increase in strength, swing, then drop again. At times, with wind over tide, the sea kicked up a short, sharp chop, but nothing seemed to faze the sailors in 28 boats, racing in everything from a RS Tera to a very nimble RS Aero 5. Some of the smaller sailors had taken the wise step of sailing in a bigger boat with an adult on board to provide a bit more in the way of muscle, but no matter what the age of the crew, this was very much a day for having fun. Many of the crews had at least one dip into the water but with that resilience of youth, they quickly resumed and got on with their race. Despite the conditions there was no damage done to boats or crews and very few retirements, which is a great testament to not only the skill, but the determination of the sailors.

With racing done and all the boats ashore, it was time for an 'everyone invited' BBQ, before a Regatta Quiz in the bar (which somehow involved trying to determine the taste of ring doughnuts suspended on string – it all got very messy and then the adults joined in too!

With two hard races already completed, sailors paused before the start of Race 3 for a group picture at the Netley Open Youth Regatta. It must have been the only time in the whole day they were still as Netley became buzzing with youth fun and laughter - photo © Ian Parry

Weston Sailing Club, just a little further up Southampton Water, will be running their own Youth Regatta in the summer and it is hoped that other clubs may well follow suite, making a series of bigger youth events, raced around the local clubs, a real possibility.

Well done to all of the sailors, from Hamble, Warsash, Weston and Netley, not just for displaying their skills afloat, but for the fun and patently obvious pleasure they all seemed to get from the day....and not a 'Squad in Sight'!!!!!

Overall Results:

1st Adam Sandison - Netley
2nd Isaac Graves, Alex - Warsash
3rd Ben Harris – Weston
4th Thomas Blake – Netley
5th Archie Smoker – Netley
6th Cam Barr and Harry Gibson – Netley