Much to the satisfaction of RYA Northern Ireland and Ballyholme Yacht Club, splitting the 89 strong Youth Sailing Championship fleet over two days to mitigate risk in accordance with COVID – 19 guidelines, allowed the event to run smoothly with the only hiccup being the fickle conditions on the Sunday but Race Officer Robin Gray and his team managed to do enough to get a result.
As Afloat reported earlier, competitors travelled from all over the North and from as far away as Lough Ree and Malahide, with 420s and the ILCA 6 (the renamed Laser Radials) racing on Saturday and ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7s) Toppers and Topper 4.2s on the Sunday.
Saturday brought perfect conditions with 10 -12 knots of wind and the full five-race schedule was completed.
COVID restrictions for Dublin, unfortunately, meant some sailors were unable to race in the 420 class but there were three pairings on the water to fight it out for what was also the class Northern Championships. Ben Graf and Alexander Farrell from Lough Ree demonstrated great talent and slick crew work to win three of the five races and be crowned this year’s 420 Northern Champions.
ILCA racing at the RYA NI champs Photo: Simon McIlwaine
In the 22 strong ILCA 6 fleet, winner was Tom Coulter from Coleraine YC and East Antrim BC, counting two firsts and two thirds, finishing on 8 points, three ahead of
Erin McIlwaine of Newcastle YC and Royal St.George whose 15th in the third race put paid to her chances despite scoring two firsts and a second. But she won the tie split with Joseph Karauzum of County Antrim YC whose win in Race 5 secured him the third place tied with McIlwaine and the title of First Youth in the event.
Sunday brought a whole new set of conditions to Ballyholme and Race Office Robin Gray had to deal with a constantly shifting light wind. Despite the Committee Boat on the water for seven hours and the fleet for nearly six, only two races could be run before the 1600hrs deadline. It was local girl Hannah Dadley-Young top of the 15 strong ILCA 4 fleet with two firsts. Hannah was first girl and fifth overall at the Topper British Nationals last August. Eva Briggs from East Down and Royal North was runner up.
Ballyholme’s Hugo Boyd was top of the 17 starters in the Topper 4.2 Class with Freddie Doig of the Larne club, East Antrim, runner up.
The Topper fleet at the RYANI Youth Championships Photo: Simon McIlwaine
The Toppers turned out the biggest fleet with 32 starters. Another East Antrim competitor, Zoe Whitford, and Daniel Palmer from Ballyholme were tied first on points but with a last race win, it was Whitford who emerged first in the Topper Class and also took home the prize of first Junior and First Junior Girl.
As well as championship prizes there are Schools and Clubs prizes. Ballyholme’s Junior sailors were crowned winners of the Club Trophy while Larne Grammar secured the title of Schools Cup Champions for 2020.
Full results: 19th September and 20th September
