The end of the 2005/6 winter Junior and Youth series was marked with the traditional junior regatta.  

The junior training has been run by Trevor Nicholls throughout the winter. Our thanks go to him, once again,  for organizing such a successful series.

Two events were held, the younger sailors took part in the Optimist class event with the older ones in a pursuit race for Toppers and Topazes.

Optimist Fleet

A gentle breeze provided ideal conditions for the Oppies with 8 boats making the start line including two new members (Lawrence Doe and Myles Rankin) who joined the club after trying out Oppies for the first time at the recent open day.  Three races were sailed over a mixture of triangular and upwind/downwind courses.

The racing was close with the lead changing throughout each of the races.  There was some excellent sailing from the new members considering this was only their second outing in Oppies.

Hannah Woffinden took line honors in each of the races to take the trophy.  Second place was hotly contested between Kate Woffinden (in her maiden regatta) and Harris Maidment  with strong challenges by Holly Storr and Molly Cutler, and with Lawrence Doe and Myles Rankin pushing hard in their first major race. After some very close racing Kate just piped Harris to take second place.

Results

1. Hannah Woffinden
2. Kate Woffinden
3. Harris Maidment

The prize for the best capsize went to Race Officer Adam Meekings (who had joined in with the racing in a spare boat) after he undertook a rather enthusiastic roll tack following an earlier encounter with the rescue boat's wash!!!

Topper & Topaz Fleet

All races were dominated by Tom Weeks, who was only ever really challenged by Drew Rush or Ed Nicholls - who did manage to beat him in the final race.  All three were heavily challenged at times in the first two races by Sophie Cutler (Topper), Callum Duffy (Topaz) and Camilla Price and Emmie Franklin (Topaz helm & crew), but it was Adam Ford (Topper) who pushed through to 3rd place in the last race.

1. Tom Weeks (Topper)
2. Ed Nicholls (Topaz)
3. Drew Rush (Topper)

So Tom Weeks took home the Junior Cup.

More photos can be seen in the photo gallery.