A superb 2022 for Derbyshire Youth Sailors
by Joanne Hill 5 Dec 2022 03:13 PST
Derbyshire Youth at Rudyard Lake © Darren Clarke
What a year 2022 has been for our Derbyshire Youth. Eleven great days of racing for the 2022 series, Double Handed Team racing at Draycote, the NSSA Regatta at Grafham and the Single Handed team racing at Burton.
In total 80 sailors have joined us throughout the year in a mix of double and single handed boats, in tough high wind events such as Toddbrook and Burton, to days when the wind was a little too shy. Glossop gave us the biggest surprise; it's always windy there, but apparently not this year. After a few years of trying we finally made it to Rudyard, a DYS Associate Club, for a great day of sailing and navigating paddle boards.
Talking of navigating, Trent Valley (our only river event) had just a bit more wind than last year, so getting off the start line was easier, but the canal boats are still there as a challenge. Of course, 2022 saw some areas having a shortage of water. As 8 of our venues are reservoirs low water has been the talk, and in some cases the headache, of the year. Fortunately, with quite a bit of shore crew assistance (aka parents) all events took place, if a little muddily.
DYS isn't all about the series, we also entered teams into the double-handed and single-handed events. Early this year we had two teams enter the NSSA DHTR at Draycote, after some very exciting races we came away with 2nd and 3rd place, we're not sure who had the most fun, the sailors or the shore crew eagerly watching on. A 1st for DYS; we had a team enter the NSSA 12 hour race at Aztec Upton Warren in a Graduate. Not only did our team of 8 sailors win the event, they also won best decorated boat and went on to thoroughly enjoy the inflatable water park, despite the lack of sleep.
Later this year we had 3 new teams in the NSSA SHTR at Burton over a weekend of; quite a lot to nearly not enough wind, but boy did they have fun, we're looking forward to seeing these sailors in action again next year. The week long regatta at Grafham was, as always, enjoyed by all those who attended, some great results and some lessons learnt, but what fun they had. Socials, climbing, crate stacking, pizza and dragon boat racing topped off the racing. We can't forget how well our team did at the Mount Haes, getting themselves into the final, a first for DYS.
Despite the singing, friendly banter and entertaining shenanigans on and off the water, there has been some very close racing throughout the year. The battle between the Graduate and the Byte C1 has been a close one, with seconds between them on corrected time. The Lasers have battled hard, along with the Toppers to see who could be top of their fleet as well as their category, or in some cases their family, as well as chasing the Grad and Byte. It really has been a pleasure to watch the dynamics on and off the water.
Having now completed our 11 events we held our awards evening at Staunton Harold on the 29th October, after a fish and chip supper. Congratulations to everyone who took part this year, whether it was your first race or your last season with DYS and hats of to our 2022 DYS Trophy Winners:
1st Overall and 1st Senior - Patrick & Jonathan Hill, Swarkestone SC - Graduate
2nd Overall & 1st Intermediate - George Jacobs, Combs SC - Byte C1
3rd Overall & 2nd Senior - Eddy Reid, Glossop SC - Laser 4.7
3rd Senior - A Baines, Rudyard SC - Topper
2nd Intermediate - Sam Clarke, Glossop SC- Laser 4.7
3rd Intermediate - S Baines, Rudyard SC - Topper
1st Junior - Reuben Lawrance, Errwood SC - Topper
2nd Topper - J Baines, Rudyard SC - Topper
3rd Junior William Morbey, Combs SC - Topper
1st Male Helm - Patrick Hill, Swarkestone SC
1st Female Helm - S Baines, Rudyard SC
Most Improved - Sam Clarke, Glossop SC
Highest Newcomer - Oliver Morby, Swarkestone SC
Club with Highest Points - Rudyard SC
What's next? A few team racing training days before the NSSA Double Handed event at Draycote next March and preparations for the start of the 2023 Series which begins in April at Burton SC.
If you would like to know more about Derbyshire Youth head over to our website www.dysailing.org for all the latest news and our calendar for 2023.