56 junior and youth entrants across Optimist, Topper, ILCA, Feva, Techno 293, and iQFoil classes gathered for the Winters Championships over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of December in Largs for a sought-after opportunity for sailors to come together from all corners of the country.
With almost 60 sailors across six different classes taking to water for an icy but successful Winter Championships at Largs Sailing Club, lots of festive cheer made sure spirits were kept up and, with plenty sailors donning appropriate Christmas attire, the competition wasn't just limited to the sailing.
Competitors were in good company on and off the water. Between dedicated volunteers covering everything for safety to snacks up in the lounge, to the pod of Dolphins accompanying sailors round the windward mark, there was plenty to be excited about.
Race Officer for the Alpha Course Eilidh Miller shared her thoughts at the end of day one:
"The competitors all did well in the conditions. We got in 4, 5 and 2, good races in across the fleets. It was also great to see the dolphins out on the start line, however they may have been a distraction for some of our ILCA sailors."
With plenty positives amongst the challengingly light winds, complete with 90 degree wind switches, sailors all left the water looking ahead to Day 2 and it's slightly more promising weather forecast.
And, the Sunday didn't disappoint, with the sun coming out alongside a much more consistent wind.
The additional breeze did however keep the safety cover busy, whether that was supplying snacks, or to assisting a few capsize recoveries.
Once off the water and warmed up, attentions turned to prize-giving, run by Event Director and Performance manager Matt Toynbee who noted:
"Great to get the Winter Championship back this year back with plenty festive cheer. Some awesome efforts from the sailors in even getting here with the weather across the country. Massive thanks to all those parents, officials, volunteers and sailors who enabled the event to be a success this year."
In the three largest fleets, it was Emily Shearer who came out on top from the Toppers, with Finlay Ritchie the first Optimist, while in the tightly fought ILCA 6 Fleet Ruairi Herrington claimed first.
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