Rutland Sailors retain another national title
Published 13:45 on 7 Jul 2022
Rutland Youth Sailors retained their BSDRA National Team Racing championship for the second year leaving them unbeaten in an under 19 team racing competition since the ET win in 2019.
It was tight at the top. At the end of the Gold League there were 4 teams tied in first place, two of these teams being from Rutland. Stamford School team won the Silver League and sailed off in the repechage for the last place in the semi finals.
The first semi final was MCS vs Sevenoaks this went to 3 races. The second semi was a Rutland Derby first team versus second. The second team had beaten the first in the Gold league race so it was all to play for. In the end the first team showed their experience in wining in two races. The second team should be very proud, this was their first time sailing as a team, some of them in new combinations. All of them are young enough to have been sailing in the Junior competition in Fevas, the majority of the competition are upper sixth sailors.
In to the finals MCS versus Rutland. It was tight and the flukey, changeable winds up the last beat made for difficult tactical races. Rutland took the first race, MCS the second a final race shoot out!
At mark 3 there was still no clear leader, mark room and luffing commenced. MCS held first, Rutland second. A fake starboard gybe back gave advantage to Rutland but there was the long beat to go. The boats crept up the beat towards the shore Rutland now in 236 a losing combination. Travel plans were being changed. Then with a stroke of genius the Rutland last boat spotted the wind and sailed towards it coming through from last to first. If you can get first take it A penalty from one of the Rutland boats becoming unimportant as the other 2 sailed to a winning 1 3. Phew..
In the Junior Competition ( under 16) we had a young team who sailed superbly all event. They made it comfortably into the semis, and then into the finals. They took an early lead in the first race of the final and looked like getting a win under their belt. However the wind gods deserted them and a clear 1 2 round the leeward evaporated along with the wind on the long leg to the finish and the team from Ryde sailed past.
The second race saw a Rutland boat given a penalty off the start line. On this occasion the wind stayed steady giving them little chance of a comeback and Ryde went on to win the competition overall. This was an incredible performance by a team on average more than 3 years younger than their opposition.
It was an awesome performance by the Rutland teams. The three Rutland teams all making it to the semi finals.
Congratulation to all our young sailors.
Last updated 11:33 on 29 October 2022