The best para sailors in the country battled it out on the water in the first Multiclass event since 2019. The sun shone, the wind blew (a bit), the competition was tight, and the buzz off the water electric.
Saturday saw 3 fleet races using the Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) system, followed by a pursuit race on the Sunday.
More than sailing
As always, the Multiclass is about so much more than just the sailors at the front of the fleet.
Lottie Lloyd in her first ever regatta and the youngest sailor in the event; Ben Foulsham, a young man with autism sailing a Challenger for the first time and just back from a Tall Ships Youth Trust adventure; Alan Wall sailing a Challenger using switches and servos to steer and control the sails; and Milly Evans, steering an RS Venture with a head switch and sailing for the first time in such a large fleet. Completing just one race on the Saturday was the longest she had ever been out on the water, and she smashed that record out of the park on the Sunday during the pursuit race.
All of the para sailors achieved what they did through commitment, hard work and lots of practice. And of course with a whole load of support behind them from an army of volunteers who nurture their passion for sailing, help them learn and develop despite the obstacles in their way, find technology and equipment that gives them the control and independence they need to race, and spend days getting boats to the venue and ready to be sailed.
The event wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support from Rutland Sailing Club, Rutland Sailability and the RAF Sailing Safety Team.
The 2023 RYA Multiclass Regatta will be hosted at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Dates will be released shortly.
Find out more about RYA Sailability and opportunities for disabled people to get out on the water.
No comments:
Post a Comment