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From Sarah Davies, OOD on the day
On Saturday, 7th September, Bowmoor Sailing Club proudly hosted the third and final leg of the Cotswold Youth Interclub Regatta, welcoming young sailors from Cotswold Sailing Club and Whitefriars Sailing Club.
This event, aimed at sailors aged 16 and under who have completed their RYA 1 & 2, provides a platform for enthusiastic young sailors to test their skills. The focus is on encouraging participation at different venues and offering the chance to try out various boats. While visiting sailors are welcome to bring their own boats, host clubs, including Bowmoor, generously loan their training fleets or member boats to increase participation and make logistics easier.
As with previous events, the day began with the offering of bacon butties, setting the tone for a warm welcome. Each host club takes pride in its hospitality, and Bowmoor had big shoes to fill after the excellent receptions provided by Cotswold and Whitefriars in May and June. The day was capped with a barbecue for the sailors and their families, fostering a friendly and social atmosphere.
Providing boats for all visiting sailors, while simultaneously hosting an adult RYA course, posed a logistical challenge. However, thanks to careful preparation by Bosun Owen Griffith and his dedicated team, all necessary equipment was ready and available for the day’s events.
A team of nearly a dozen volunteers was also on hand to cater to the needs of our guests, ensuring everyone was well-fed and refreshed.
The forecast leading up to the event predicted light winds, and unfortunately, those predictions proved accurate. After the welcome briefing, sailors participated in an impromptu knot-tying relay race as we waited for more favorable conditions. Eventually, a slight breeze allowed us to set a course, and 43 young sailors took to the water. Given the large number of participants, the fleet was split into fast and slow handicap groups to ease congestion at the start line, particularly helpful for the youngest and less experienced sailors.
The leading fast handicap boats completed the first two laps in just 20 minutes. However, as the front-runners crossed the line, the wind dropped significantly, prompting the race team to make a quick decision to finish at the windward mark. Unfortunately, those further back struggled with fading wind, with the final finishers taking a further 40 minutes longer to complete.
After lunch, the wind remained too light for sailing, so fun, water-based team games were organized using the club's Optibats and canoes. These activities were a hit, with many children expressing how much they enjoyed the games, while some of the more seasoned racers held out hope for a chance to sail again. Unfortunately, the wind never returned, and the remaining races were called off.
Despite the lack of wind, the event was filled with camaraderie and fun, with participants from different clubs mingling and bonding through the team games.
The day concluded with a prize-giving ceremony. Awarding 1st Will Hinnigan A7, 2nd Ellie Pickard A7 and 3rd Toby Owen, ILCA 6 from Whitefriars. In the Slow handicap 1-3rd positions all Tera Sports, 1st Jay Bulkes, 2nd Amy Heyburn Whitefriars, 3rd Julin Barr. We expressed our gratitude to the volunteers and participants for their efforts and enthusiasm. The festivities ended with a generous barbecue on the club’s decking, accompanied by drinks from the bar.
While we could have done with more wind, over 40 children enjoyed a memorable day on the water, made possible by a fantastic team of 25 volunteers. Their hard work and dedication truly exemplified the spirit of Bowmoor Sailing Club.
If you're new to Bowmoor or have recently qualified young sailors interested in joining the 2025 Interclub Regatta, please get in touch. Spaces are limited, so email us at youth@bowmoor.co.uk to secure your place. |
