More than 250 youngsters took to the water for an action-packed weekend of fun at the Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships.
The much-loved regatta – which pits junior and youth teams from across the country against one another in a series of short races – was near maximum capacity as it returned to its long-term home of Oxford Sailing Club.
A whopping 845 fast-paced races were held under clear blue skies over the course of the weekend as 29 junior teams and 28 youth teams battled it out for a sought-after top spot.
The junior fleet hit the water in teams of two, racing in RS Fevas, kindly supplied by RS Sailing. The youth competition took place in Fireflies, with teams of three going up against each other.
Lighter winds on an opening day saw some excellent tactical racing on display, while a fresh Sunday breeze allowed the teams to showcase their skills when fully powered up.
The junior title went to Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s team Danger Bear, who defeated North Toppers 2-1 in the final. TeraTastic took third.
The Eric Twiname Junior Team Racing Championships title went to Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s team Danger Bear
The youth fleet was won by Rutland Raiders from Rutland Sailing Club after they saw off Royal Hospital Blue 2-0 in their final.
Event director Niall McLeod, the RYA’s Racing Services Manager, said: “It was fantastic to see so many youngsters out on the water enjoying team racing. It's always my favourite event of the year to deliver as the volunteers and sailors are always so enthusiastic. Team racing is such a good advert for sailing – it’s fun, fast-paced and sociable. We’re already looking forward to next year.”
The regatta is named after famous sailor, author and journalist Eric Twiname, who made his name in sailing, winning numerous national titles in a range of dinghy classes, as well as in team racing, where he captained the British Universities Sailing Association.
He was also greatly influential in shaping the Racing Rules, which govern racing, sitting on the RYA’s Racing Rules Committee and working as the Racing Rules Advisor to the British Olympic Association.
Entries are subsidised by the Eric Twiname Trust, which was set up in Twiname's name following his untimely death in 1980.
The 2023 Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships will take place at Oxford Sailing Club on October 7 and 8 next year. More info here
