North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers (NEYYTS) at Covenham Sailing Club

True to the name of the series, on Saturday 28th May 2022, sixteen sailors from five regional clubs travelled to Covenham SC, for the fifth event in the North East & Yorkshire Youth Traveller Series. On the extremes of the series boundary, Covenham SC is a large inland body of water, taking advantage of an elevated position on the flat lands between the Lincolnshire Wolds and the North Sea coastline of Lincolnshire to the east.

The course set by Race Officer Mike Bayliss and his race team of club members was a simple but fast triangular course. The unusual northerly wind conditions produced 4 competitive races with tight on the water battles with different race winners in every race. Treated to a building breeze during the morning session, two races were sailed back-to-back either side of a hot lunch. The breezy wind strength sustained throughout the afternoon session to test the fitness of the young sailors.

The entries included previous series winners, experienced youth sailors and novice club sailors keen to be introduced to regional handicap racing with like-minded junior and youth sailors. The fleet consisting of 1 x 420, 4 x ILCA 6, 1 x ILCA 4, 7 x Topper, 3 x RS Tera.

With all but one of the fleet being single-handed dinghies, the solo 420 double-hander, sailed by Christopher Hampshire & Oliver Lumb (Ripon SC) enjoyed the breezy conditions, trapezing upwind and battling the downwind legs with the symmetric spinnaker. In race 1, the 420 crossed the line well ahead of the rest of the fleet only to be individual recalled allowing the four ILCA 6 to sail clear up to the windward mark.

Race 1 set the regular scene with the four ILCA 6s leading on the water in each and every race with some interesting tactical close quarter racing. Race 1 winner was home sailor Henry Redmond (Covenham SC) who lead the whole race pulling away in the final lap to win by 41 seconds from Tom Bates (Ripon SC) and Archie Burton (Beaver SC).

Race 2 was a much closer affair as the winds built and the ILCA sailors enjoyed the close competitive racing, riding the gusts and covering each other wherever possible. On the water, the lead changed hands many times, with Oli Hirst (Scammonden SC) pushing the ILCA 6s hard, leading after the first lap before Archie taking the lead for lap 2 and 3.

Continuing the fight into the final lap, Henry Redmond took on the water honours for Race 2 with the top three boats finishing within a few seconds of each other. However, as the ILCA 6s battled it out like jet fighters from the movie Top Gun, the distraction of tight, tactical racing, allowed slower PY boats to compete on handicap/corrected times.

Taking advantage of this and sailing in clear water, Kyla Baxter (Covenham SC) sailed well to take Race 2 honours on corrected time by 8 seconds. A good breakthrough as the only boat to break the routine top three finishes of ILCA6s in the four races.

Grateful for a warm lunch after the breezy but cold morning session, sailing resumed where it left off, with Tom and Archie pushing hard, both improving results in Race 3 to ensure the regatta went into a last race showdown. In Race 3 Tom Bates sailed clear of Archie by 9 seconds with Henry a further 5 seconds behind.

Race 4, the final event decider, saw more tactical racing towards the front of the fleet between Henry and Tom, allowed Archie to focus on his boat speed and sailed clear to take Race 4 by a 29 second margin.

Overall results provided a tight finish with the top three sailors separated by only 1 point. Henry Redmond securing the regatta win with scores of 1, 2, (3), 2. Archie Burton and Tom Bates equal on points, Archie Burton securing second place on countback with 3, (4), 2, 1.

The objective of the series is to promote competitive racing events, friendship, quality skills and personal growth. With an experienced fleet the input from Covenham SC Principal, Simon Thompson, race coaching was dedicated to the single Regatta Fleet entry, Harry Wilson (Filey SC). A commendation from Simon on Harry's sailing skills to keep going in breezy conditions with smiles and determination in equal measure meant the Endeavour Trophy was awarded to Harry.

Family and club honours continued with Molly Wilson rising to the top of the Junior sailing category finishing with her best result of 9th in the final race, just 3 points ahead of Zac Williamson (Ripon SC). In the Female category regular series entry Kyla Baxter (Covenham SC) finished fourth overall, one place ahead of club compatriot Imogen Wright (Covenham SC).

North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers (NEYYTS) at Covenham - photo © Martin Redmond

Over the duration of the day, four sailors - although trying their hardest to tame the conditions - retired or DNC, including James Wright (Covenham SC) who was quick out of the blocks in Race 1 with a good seventh place finish, only to be undone with a kicker fitting breakage cutting short his participation in race 3.

Another consistent event for Ripon SC sailor George Spence who finished in seventh place, just one short of his current 'season's best' sixth place overall result.

With a further six events to enter, three of which are at sea venues to help further develop sailing skills in a wave and tidal environment, all sailors have opportunity to add to their current series scores or provide opportunities for new experienced or novice sailors to join the series in as few or as many events to suit their sailing plans.

Many thanks to Covenham Sailing Club and the RYA Regional Volunteer Team for hosting and awarding trophies and prizes. Visitors to the venue included Charles Glover (RYA RVT Chairman) providing a sounding board for club members and parents on matters such as 'participation in grassroots sailing'.

The series now has a weekend off to rest and celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, before resuming competition at South Shield SC on 11th June 2022. For series results and further details on how to enter please go to www.yhysa.org

North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers (NEYYTS) at Covenham - photo © Martin Redmond

Overall Results: