On the crest of a wave...
YOUNG SAILORS FROM COUNTY ENJOY SUMMER OF SUCCESS AT YOUTH REGATTA
A team from Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association is celebrating a summer of success after scooping a collection of trophies at a prestigious national regatta.
More than 250 young sailors from across the UK represented their county, school or club at the National School Sailing Association (NSSA) National Youth Regatta in Plymouth.
Among them were a group of talented up and coming Leicestershire youngsters, who all came home with trophies from the flagship weeklong regatta, which saw them successfully competing in a range of conditions, including challenging strong winds.
The team from Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA), which is based at John Merricks’ Lake Watermead Country Park in Charnwood, comprised 16 youngsters aged between nine and 17 from across the county, including Leicester, Hinckley, Syston, Loughborough and Market Bosworth.
Ben Sherry and Adam Aziz in their doublehanded dinghy shared the Sailor of the Week award with rookie sailor Hasan Tayub in his first national event.
Edwin Jones won the Triumph Award for Seamanship and Calum Jones won an award for sportsmanship.
Colin McGee, LRYSA chairman and RYA training principal, said: “We have been taking a team to NSSA’s annual youth regatta for many years and this time the weather was often extreme, with strong winds and rain, but we were really impressed with how our young sailors battled on.
“They demonstrated fantastic skill and sportsmanship on the water – and also on shore when they returned to their campsite to find tents blown away or damaged!”
LRYSA’s alumni includes the late John Merricks, a 1996 Olympic silver medallist, and Mike Wood, who was a youth world champion in 2007.
Colin added: “The NSSA event was the first major regatta for LRYSA after the Covid lockdown in March last year brought all sporting activities to a halt and we are extremely proud of the team and all our young sailors.”
Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association is an inclusive charity dedicated to providing opportunities for local youngsters who may not otherwise have the chance to experience sailing.
Since returning from the regatta, LRYSA has provided summer holiday training courses for 33 children aged seven to 15 across a range of RYA Youth Sailing Scheme qualifications.
To find out more about how children can enjoy sailing with LRYSA, email or visit: