Federation Youth Team event 2007

Chichester Harbour Federation’s second annual youth team event was sailed in ideal conditions – a steady southerly breeze peaking at 10 knots – at Hayling Island SC on Saturday August 11. Four three-boat teams of Fevas entered from three harbour clubs: HISC with a sextet each of girls and boys, plus Emsworth SC and Chichester YC. The young sailors demonstrated both impressive boat handling skills and increasing competence in team racing tactics as the competition progressed. They sailed an American tournament, each team meeting each of the others twice, with overall rating decided on total number of wins. Racing was over a trapezoid course, and the level of shouts on rule points and frequent penalty turns showed how enthusiastically the competitors entered into the spirit of team racing
The first round brought a needle match between HISC boys and girls, with the girls snatching victory at the finish to shouts of delight. Emsworth convincingly defeated a less experienced CYC team.
In round two, CYC went down again, though in a closer match, to the HISC boys and Emsworth scored another 1, 2, 3, against HISC girls.
HISC girls were back in winning positions, against CYC, in round three, while a closely-fought match between the other two teams saw Emsworth winning but with a potential protest against their second-place boat.
The sequence was run again, and again Emsworth trounched CYC, while the HISC boys took their revenge on the girls. CYC showed a big improvement in round five, just losing a close match against HISC boys, while Emsworth left the HISC girls trailing.
The final round, in the best breeze of the day, was the closest, with boats in both matches very close together all round the course and plenty of tactical sailing. CYC ended on a high note, beating HISC girls, while Emsworth snatched victory by just half a point from HISC boys.
The protest, which would not affect the overall result, was withdrawn, and Emsworth carried off the biggest haul of chocolate as worthy winners – but there was more the other teams to share, to reward their energetic enthusiasm for the event.
Many thanks are due to HISC for providing the committee boat and safety support, and to race officer Peter Glasby and his team. The Federation hopes more clubs will support the event – which is not only fun in itself but is invaluable in developing boat handling and tactical ability – in 2008.
Results:
1. Emsworth SC (Alex Poyner and Charlie Warren, Jess Lavery and Philippa Lawson, Harry Derbyshire and James Poyner) 6 wins; 2. HISC boys (Tim Gratton and Chris Taylor, Charlie Williams and William Nicholls, Hugo Jones-Warner and Jordan Watson) 3 wins; 3. HISC girls (Holly Watson and Brittney Mackinlay, Eilidh McIntyre and Cassia Roberts, Hannah Maunder and Emily Cox) 2 wins; 4. Chichester YC (Alex Orton and Steph Orton, Lydia Mapstone and Camilla Mapstone, Adam Kitchen and Abbie Page) 1 win.