The South East Zone are the 2009 RYA Eric Twiname Championships champions as their sailors reigned triumphant at Rutland Water this weekend (Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 May).
Although breezes of 15 plus knots guaranteed a cracking first day of racing yesterday, the wind wasn’t quite so willing to play ball on Sunday and with no further racing possible the overnight leaders in the dinghy and windsurfing classes were crowned 2009 RYA Eric Twiname champions.
Some 226 sailors in 211 boats representing the nine RYA Zone and Home Countries took to the water to try to wrestle the coveted Eric Twiname Shield from the grasp of 2008 event winners the North Zone.
And with four races completed for all classes, it was the South East Zone who emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins claiming the overall Championship title from the second-placed South Zone on the tie-break.
The defending Welsh Optimist Class Champions from 2008 battled hard on the Saturday with Daniel Whitely (PDSC) finishing a close second and Tom Joesbury (Shotwick) and Alex Cole (CBYC) all in the Top 10 and maintaining the pressure on the South Zone overall lead ready for Sunday’s lighter winds.
In the Welsh Topper camp, Danielle Rowe shook off a niggling knee problem and put in a 5th and first to finish 7th and 2nd girl overall.
The expected light winds on Sunday materialised with no wind and the race management team ended the waiting (after team games) around lunchtime. So nearly for a few of the Welsh with the Optimists finishing a credible 2nd overall and the Toppers mid table in 6th.
Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: “The standard of racing on Saturday was the highest I have seen at this event for some years. In some shifty, gusty winds, sometimes over 20 knots, all the sailors did really well to hang in there and keep focussed for the full four races and it was great to see the level of skill being displayed. This is testament to the work the sailors have put in with their coaches over the winter and the fact that the RYA Eric Twiname Championships is held in such high regard by everyone. I’ve been really impressed this weekend.”
John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager / Performance Director added: “The RYA Eric Twiname Championships are a fundamental rung in the development ladder for the young sailors, some of whom will have started at the absolute grassroots through the RYA’s OnBoard and Team15 programmes and for those who we hope will eventually go on to represent Britain as seniors at the World’s biggest Olympic Classes regattas.”
Meanwhile, with the event also doubling up as the first part of the selection process for the 2009 Laser 4.7 and Mirror National Junior squads, RYA Team GBR Laser 4.7 Worlds representative Lorenzo Chiavarini, 15, was in scintillating form dominating the indicator with two wins and two seconds while Liverpool’s Amy Mercer, 14, finished top girl.
In the Mirrors, Tom Lovesey and Millie Pugh enjoyed the narrowest of victories, taking first ahead of Alex Lloyd & Jack Moore on countback, Lovesey/Pugh having discarded a second to Lloyd / Moore’s third. Sisters Meia and Elin Harnett won the top girls’ accolade.
Full results and further event information can be found at the RYA Racing Events website at www.ryaracingevents.org.uk