Sailors get set for RYA Eric Twiname Team Racing showdown
Stage is set for Youth and Junior Team Race head-to-head this weekend
Farmoor Reservoir, Oxford, will play host to over 300 junior sailors this weekend (19-20 October) as 50 teams of enthusiastic youngsters go head-to-head for the coveted title of 2013 RYA Eric Twiname Team Racing Champions.
The regatta is set to be another thrilling encounter with team racing providing the nation’s young sailors the opportunity to develop their boat handling, rule understanding and team work whilst racing in a fun yet competitive arena. For many teams the event will be their first taste of team racing whilst for others the 2013 title will be right in their sights.
The annual two day event will welcome teams from the Junior and Youth class associations, zones, clubs, schools and individual teams who will commence battle in the two separate events. The Junior fleet will contest in RS Feva’s and the Youth fleet Firefly’s for teams of three boats (all boats are supplied).
The weekend will be divided into three stages; ranking, league, and knock-out rounds, with over 250 separate races scheduled before the Championship-winning teams are decided. With such a tight packed schedule spectators are promised a real showdown with races scheduled to start every three minutes keeping sailing going continually throughout the day.
With entries open in the two age groups, under 16 (Junior) and under 19 (Youth), to teams of six sailors, the line-up of young aspiring sailors spans a vast variety of abilities.
2012 champions ‘Not the Spinnaker Team’, who made it through to the final with an unblemished record of eight wins from eight races to then go on and beat ‘Team from South’ 2-0 in the grand finale, will be back in action for the second year running to defend their 2012 Junior title – but this time known as the ‘Flying Spinnakers’. The South Coast team will face stiff competition Jenny Cropley and her team ‘Sailing Sisters’ - Cropley finished second at the last year’s event competing for ‘Team from South’ and will be eager to go one better this time around.
Meanwhile In the Youth event, last year’s victors Magdelen College School (MCS1) will be looking to defend their crown against a number of rival teams. ‘Morgan Eric PEACH and his followers’ will be a force to be reckoned with, their team comprising RYA UK National Youth Squad sailors Owen Bowerman and Morgan Peech amongst others, whilst ‘Team Oracle’ will also be title contenders with the experience of ISAF Youth Worlds competitors Tim Riley and Luke Burywood in the mix.
David Campbell James, RYA Eric Twiname Team Racing Event Director, said: “We are once again full to capacity proving how well established and popular this event is on the RYA Youth and Junior racing calendar. The conditions for the weekend look to be quite challenging with some strong gusts over the two days of racing giving the sailors a good test of their racing ability. With the support of the Eric Twiname Trust, we are looking forward to another really exciting weekend of action packed racing at Farmoor Reservoir.”
Teams competing in the Junior (under 16) fleet:
Mirror Class Association
Bristol Sailing Squad
Bowmoor BlastersSailing
SistersFlying Spinnakers
Chester 2
Chester 1
Maidenhead Sailing Club Youth and Juniors
Goring Greats
Oxford Pirates
Welsh Toppers
Sevenoaks School
BWKSC Ospreys
Elizabeth College Junior
Stamford U16
South Staffs SC
Team Heathcote
Oakham Feva
Sevenoaks School A
Burghfield
Ardingly College
Parkstone Junior Toppers
HISC Hotshots
Claires Court Schools
Teams competing in the Youth (under 19) fleet:
The Wolfpack
The Mirrors
Elizabeth College Youth
Norwich School
RGS Guildford
Gnarly Race Team
Winchester Red
Radials
Tonbridge School Red
Tonbridge School Black
Team Oracle
Morgan Eric PEACH and his followers
West Kirby Highlanders
Oxford Sailing Club
Stamford U19
Team Stog
Oakham Black
Oakham Red
Sevenoaks School
MCS 2
MCS 1
Parkstone Youth Topper
WOSC Warriors B
WOSC Warriors A
James & the Giant Peaches
Claires Court Schools
For further information on the event please visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk.