Eric Twiname Team Racing @ Oxford Sailing Club
Published 14:49 on 10 Oct 2022
This weekend saw a change from Optimist Sailing Toby and his RTG friends travelled to Oxford Sailing Club to Team Race. A selection of last years' RYA Optimist Regional Training Group wanted to again attend this prestigious team racing event.
Juniors sail in the RS Feva, Youths in the Firefly.
The event had 28 Youth teams and 30 Junior teams it was like a reunion for the Junior teams lots of Oppie sailors attended it from various regions. These RTG sailors are from NE and NW Clubs and have sailed together in Optimists for 2 - 3 years now, they have the most amazing friendships. Having read the NOR with reference to the number of teams Clubs could enter, the gender mix and the number of entries allowed we collectively decided to pop the 2 junior teams in as Teesdale and Scaling Dam with a sailor from each representing their Clubs.
We finished Saturday's racing with both Junior teams in Gold A and B fleet with Teesdale in 2nd place. Scaling Dam were unfortunate on the Sunday morning when a quick change of team member due to illness meant the heavier winds were a battle in themselves never mind the other team. Teesdale battled with the 5 other Top teams. They had to complete a repechage race to get into the final 4 which although a close finish they lost. They did not bring home a medal but did finish 5th overall out of some very good Team Racing teams and enjoyed every minute. There was much excitement about returning next year too!
Great fun was had by sailors and parents (Mums got to go shopping, Dads were left in charge and sailors ran rings around them)! Funniest moment of the weekend had to be when Steve Waggett was 'volunteered' to be on the finish boat with a Derwent 'volunteer' dad one needing glasses and the other being colour blind!
It was lovely to see so many Northern sailors attend this event - North Toppers finished 2nd Junior team among entries also from West Kirby and Roa Island. We had 5 Northern Junior teams and 2 Northern Youth teams (Derwent included) a great representation for the North.
