Sixty One boats took part in this year’s 15^th West Sussex Schools’ and Youth Sailing Association Regatta, hosted by Arun Youth Aqua Centre, also the hosts for the inaugural event in 1993, over the weekend of September 22^nd and 23^rd.   Despite dire forecasts early in the week a dull overcast Saturday dawned with no wind at all and racing was postponed and started in a light F2 SSW breeze which slowly during the course of the day built to a steady F2-3, and the sun came out!   The generally light conditions on Saturday favoured the more experienced sailors, the conditions on Sunday being totally different, with a SW F4-5 building to F6 forecast racing started earlier than planned, and in the event the wind stayed at no more than F4 and despite some early retirements all enjoyed the fresh breeze.

All the youngsters, some entering their first major regatta, displayed a high degree of seamanship in handling their boats and launching and recovering in a disciplined way, especially on the Sunday when the beach conditions were difficult for some of the inland sailors, and on the race course competition was keen and close right through the three fleets. Tony Harrison (Race Officer) set a trapezoid course both days with an outer loop for the fast fleet, a small course set for Saturday with a much larger one for the Sunday, many youngsters failed to appreciated the cross course tide on Saturday and found themselves well down tide on the downwind leg of the trapezoid. A challenging line was set with a number of boats being forced over at the pin end on race 4. 

In the Slow Handicap fleet (11 boats) the sole Laser 4.7 of Billy Hickman, Pagham Yacht Club, was dominant both days posting a 2, 3 and three 1sts. Billy’s sister Rosie Hickman also in a sole Optimist was second and also gained a specific mention at the prize giving of being the “sunniest” competitor afloat greeting the committee boat and safety boat crews with a smile every time as she sailed by. The remainder of the fleet comprised of five Feva’s  with Hugh Sutton and his sister Lorna, Arun Youth Aqua Centre,  leading their class with a third in the slow fleet. The remaining boats consisted of two double handed Pico’s Pagham Lagoon Sailing and a RS Tera. The Fast Handicap fleet (19 boats) was likewise dominated by one sailor, this time it was the Laser Jamie Forsdyke, Pagham Yacht Club, excelling in the light winds of Saturday with 3 1sts, followed by a second and fifth on the final race. Jack Munnery and Jack Holden in the RS400, Arun Yacht Club, posted two seconds Race 3 and 5 to split the Laser and Laser Radial fleet up while James Millett and Cheryl Skinner 420, Arun Youth Aqua Centre, headed the final race of the series. With 6 Laser Stds, 7 Laser Radials and 5 420’s competition amongst the individual classes within the fast fleet was strong and Robert Thompson, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club, headed the Laser Radials with Edward Harrison and Peter Clevett, Arun Youth Aqua Centre, the 420’s.Erc Sharrad (series total 4.25pts), Pagham Yacht Club, was dominant in the Topper fleet of 29 boats with Toby Scofield, Felpham Sailing Club, heading him twice only in races 2 and 3, Toby unfortunately suffering an injury race 4 which meant his competition was over.

Not unsurprising as the results rolled out, Pagham Yacht Club, won the team prize with Crawley Mariners third and the host club Arun Youth Aqua Centre third in an event attracting 7 teams. 

Keith Hopper President of WSSYSA commented at the prize giving how all of the sailors were winners for taking part in the event and remarking that even the Olympic Champions started at events such as this, just build and learn from their individual success. 

Martin Tomlinson (WSSYSA Secretary) gave special thanks to Arun Youth Aqua Centre for hosting the event and Nick Gibb MP  awarded the prizes to the young sailors and commenting on how he had wished he’d been able to spend a full day with the sailors as they all looked so fit and healthy!

Results Fast Handicap: - 1^st Jamie Forsdyke, Pagham Yacht Club (PYC), Laser, 2^nd Robert Thompson, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club (CMYC), Laser Radial and 3^rd Luke Mapley, Felpham Sailing Club (FSC), Laser Radial. Slow Handicap: - 1^st Billy Hickman, PYC, Laser 4.7, 2^nd Rosie Hickman, PYC, Optimist and 3^rd Hugh and Lorna Sutton, Arun Youth Aqua Centre (AYAC), RS Feva. Topper Fleet: - 1^st Eric Sharrad, PYC, , 2^nd Oliver Legg, CMYC, 3^rd Ben Hoddy, Dell Quay Sailing Club(DQSC), 4^th James Mapely, FSC, 5^th Samuel Launders and 6^th Charlie Cook, PYC. Team Trophy based on best five placed boats: - 1^st PYC, 2^nd CMYC and 3^rd AYAC. Full results on WSSYSA web site at www.wssysa.org.uk and pictures of the event.