Youth Open 2024 at Draycote Water Sailing Club
by Mark Dunkley 8 Jan 14:26 GMT
30 December 2024
The Draycote youth open sponsored by Fernhurst Books welcomed a bumper entry of 85 boats from ILCA 6s, 4s, Toppers, RS Teras and Optimists.
The weather was looking good as competitors registered and went straight into the race briefing at 9,45am. PRO Dave Rowe was running the green course for the ILCAs and RO Ethan Cheshire was running the red course with Topper 5.3s on the first start with the remaining fleets on start 2.
First warning at 10:25am and as the committee boats headed out the breeze built, when in position there was a steady 19knots from the southwest.
ILCA 6s formed the largest fleet with 36 boats and were away first although the wind was testing for some of the boats and after a clean start a few headed for shore deciding the conditions were to much for them, fifteen ILCA 4s followed sailing the inner loop. Both fleets sped around the course and before the race team knew it they were approaching the finish, the front six ILCA 6s were all very close.
The two lead boats didn't know where the finish line was (maybe they missed the competitor briefing?) and gave away the lead to Tom Hakes who took advantage to take the race win.
Ilca 4s has a couple of sailors retire and Ethan Rhodes was enjoying the strong winds to take the race win.
On the red course the strong winds were also testing the sailors and keeping Draycote rescue boats busy. In the Topper 5.3s Oscar Rowe took the race 1 win and Rory Luddington in his Optimist took the honours in Race 1 in the handicap fleet.
Race 2 and 3 followed in similar winds with gusts of 24 to 28 knots being recorded on the committee boats in race 3, the racing remained tight in the ILCA 6s and we had seen three different race winners so all to play for in race 4. The ILCA 4s was being dominated by an impressive three bullets by Ethan Rhodes who had done enough to win with one with a race to spare. The Topper 5.3s was tight with again three different race winners. The handicap fleet had seen Rory win race 1 and 2 but the Topper 4.2 of Henry Cruise was now chasing hard with a win in race 3.
All to play for in Race 4 on the red course - all the sailors that had got this far were showing excellent sailing skills and just before the start the wind started to drop and settled at what now felt like a light 12 knots.
Joe Rowe took his second race win of the day in the ILCA 6 to win overall, Ethan Rhodes made it a four out of four in the 4's. Oscar Rowe took the final win in the Topper 5.3 fleet to win overall while Henry Cruise continued his afternoon success to take the race win and event in the handicap fleet.
Prize giving in the bar where event sponsor Fernhurst Books awarded vouchers to mid placed sailors in each fleet. While the winners collected Trophies for each fleet.
That wrapped up a busy festive period at Draycote water that saw the lake busy every day with so many junior sailors, foiling, training, racing or just having fun on the water.
Results: draycotewater.co.uk/events/ilca-youth-open-23-438