Young sailors from the Rutland and Leicestershire are have secured success at the National Youth Regatta
They were among more than 250 who took part from across the UK
Young sailors from the Rutland and Leicestershire region have secured success at the National Youth Regatta in Plymouth. They were among more than 250 who took part from across the UK.
A team from the Rutland and Leicestershire youth sailing association triumphed in a number of categories including seamanship, sailor of the week and sportsmanship.
They all battled strong winds and heavy rain in securing their honours.
The team from Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA) - which is based at John Merrick's Lake Watermead Country Park in Charnwood - comprised 16 youngsters aged between 9 and 17 from across the county, including Leicester City, Hinckley, Syston, Loughborough and Market Bosworth.
Ben Sherry and Adam Aziz in their doublehanded dinghy shared a Sailor of the Week award with rookie sailor Hasan Tayub in his first national event. Edwin Jones won the Triumph Award for Seamanship and Calum Jones won an award for Sportsmanship.
Colin McGee, LRYSA Chairman and RYA Training Principal, said: “We have been taking a team to NSSA’s annual youth regatta for many years and this time the weather was often extreme, with strong winds and rain, but we were really impressed with how our young sailors battled on. They demonstrated fantastic skill and sportsmanship on the water – and also on shore when they returned to their camp site to find tents blown away or damaged!”
LRYSA'S alumni includes the late John Merricks, a 1996 Olympic silver medallist, and Mike Wood, who was a youth world champion in 2007. Mr McGee added: “The NSSA event was the first major regatta for LRYSA after the Covid lockdown in March last year brought all sporting activities to a halt and we are extremely proud of the team and all our young sailors.”
Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association is a charity dedicated to providing opportunities for local youngsters who may not otherwise have the chance to experience sailing.