Derbyshire Blue deliver determined win at NSSA Double Handed Team Racing Championships
Question: What do you get if you mix 116 sailors in 29 teams from 15 different organisations from across the country, 24 boats, 9 RIBS, 300 lunches and over 70 volunteers in stunning scenery and sunshine for the weekend?
Answer: Competitive team racing, friendship, fun and camaraderie and a lot of smiles at the National School Sailing Association (NSSA) Double Handed Team Racing Championships which were held at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club (YDSC) on 21 & 22 March 2026.
The event was hosted by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and was run in Fireflys and Fevas. The fireflies were loaned by York University & Leeds University, NEYYSA is pleased to support and partner these universities in an ongoing & developing relationship. The Fevas were loaned by Ripon SC, YDSC, Windermere School & Sedbergh School. NEYYSA is grateful for the ongoing support of all regional clubs and organisations that allows these large events to run. The Feva flights used team racing sails loaned by Rutland SC and the third flight sported NEYYSA team racing jibs previously funded by the Eric Twiname Trust.
Racing got under way slightly later than intended on Saturday morning as the wind unusually failed to materialise at YDSC. Sailors made the most of the postponement by catching up with each other, eating cake (a NEYYSA standard if we're honest!), consuming the galley's entire weekend stock of hot chocolate and generally enjoying the social benefits of team racing surrounded by the fantastic Yorkshire Dales scenery which can be viewed from every angle of the club clubhouse and grounds. The team managers, parents & spectators did the same!
After racing, YDSC's galley served an evening meal for 116 people, after a short after dinner de-brief and Q&A from the young umpires from Sheffield & Newcastle Universities a round of the ever-popular disco bingo closed out the day before everyone headed to bed.
Sunday morning dawned colder than Saturday with a stronger westerly wind. Sailors who had camped overnight recounted tales of frozen tent zips and wearing clothes in bed but were soon warmed and ready for racing after bacon sandwiches from the galley. The sailors launched promptly for a 9.15am start and racing re-commenced with all to play for. Given the shortage of races on Saturday due to the wind, the SIs were amended to continue with the HLS for the rest of the day.
An event of this scale cannot happen without the vast number of volunteers prior to, during and after the event. A massive thank you to everyone who made the event happen, a particular thank you to K-Sail who again supported the event remotely with sage advice and counsel and to YDSC who stepped in at short notice to host the event after the planned venue had to withdraw. The Yorkshire welcome, friendly members and amazing catering certainly contributed to a memorable event. All volunteers were presented with a thank you gift of Yorkshire tea & biscuits and a NEYYSA mug!
Overall Results:
Firefly Gold
1 Derbyshire Blue
2 NEYYSA Natives
3 NEYYSA Nomads
Firefly Silver
1 Elton Sorcerers
2 NEYYSA Knights
3 Derbyshire Yellow
Firefly Bronze
1 LYS Sentinel
2 Worcestershire Youth Sailing Assoc
3 NEYYSA Dolphins
Feva Gold
2 RHS Orange
3 NEYYSA mINEOS
Feva Silver
1 Windermere Wonders
2 Elton Wizards
3 Otley Red Devils
No comments:
Post a Comment