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2005 GP14 Youth Nationals at Chelmarsh Sailing Club

We set off to Chelmarsh Sailing Club on Friday, and after several trips on the ‘scenic route’ we finally got there. On Saturday morning it was cloudy with some (rare) sunshine. The courses were long and impractical to say the least, with a possible 12+ marks to sail around; you needed a crew with a very good memory (so Ngaire wasn’t the best choice!). The first race there was a general recall, so the next start (and the rest of the weekends) was under the black flag.

The races were sailed in gusty and shifty conditions, as is per-usual on most lakes, with the right hand side of the beat favoured on all of the races. The wind was variable, Force 3-4, gusting 5, with the wind increasing on the second day.

The sailing area was small, with each of the legs (there were about seven of them) lasting a maximum of about five minutes and where ever you was you was never more that a couple of metres away from the next boat.

The club was very friendly and did good lunches and dinners at a reasonable price, and the staff there were helpful. The changing rooms and facilities were excellent, and they were well equipped to hold the event, with a lounge bar, a well equipped galley, an outside picnic, barbecue and a children’s play area.

Two boats went to this event from Neyland, Abby Crispin and Ngaire Strawbridge in one boat, and Hannah Leggett and Steve Murray in another. Both boats done very well in a very competitive fleet of sailors, most of whom where over eighteen.

Next year I hope to travel to the GP14 youths again, and hopefully more boats from Neyland will go too, for what is a very enjoyable event.

Abby Crispin

Ngaire Strawbridge, Abigail Crispin, Steve Murray and Hannah Leggett.

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