Derbyshire prepares for NSSA National Youth Regatta
Preparations are well under way for the National School Sailing Association 2008 National Youth Regatta to be held at Carsington Water in Derbyshire this July.
Derbyshire Youth Sailing and Carsington Sailing Club management and volunteers, in co-operation with Derbyshire Sport, Carsington Sports & Leisure Ltd and Severn Trent Water have been working tirelessly towards delivering the week long racing sailing event for potentially more than 300 visiting youth sailors from right around the country.
The event has generated a huge amount of interest and now that the entry forms have been released, the team are awaiting the avalanche of entries to come flooding in. The event is open to School Sailing Association Teams of all sizes and from any part of the UK and is being held in the first week of the school holiday period, between 20th & 25th July. The majority of teams travel together with their Team Leaders and a trailer full of boats to enjoy a week's camping and racing sailing at this annual event.
The competition on the water is friendly and yet seriously observed between both teams and individuals as there are a significant number of prizes, trophies and awards to be won. With the dinghies numbered in hundreds, the racing sailing is organised to take place on two separate racing courses and with the entry split into four different groupings. This makes the racing programme a demanding task and together with the catering and entertainment of the sailors while they are on the shore, the planning for the event is a complex process.
Derbyshire Sport has stepped up to the mark alongside the volunteers involved and has given support to the organisation and planning of the event.
Derbyshire Sport Director David Joy said: "It is fantastic that sailing has been able to attract a National level event to our region and we are delighted to be giving it our full support.
"Derbyshire Sport is pleased to be able to work alongside the community and local businesses to facilitate the participation of young people in sport."
The owners of Carsington Water, Severn Trent Water have been fully committed to the event being held at the picturesque and popular venue, having first been approached nearly two years ago. The Visitor Centre and all of the normal attractions and activities at Carsington Water will all remain fully open and operational throughout the week. A shore side area has been set aside for the sailors' dinghies when they are not afloat and an area for the event marquee, facilities and administration is also planned close to the shore. The sailing activities will take place in the normal sailing area of the 740 acre reservoir. The designated nature reserve will remain undisturbed.
Gail Richards, Severn Trent Water's External Events Manager said: "We are delighted that Carsington Water has attracted this National youth sailing event to take place in our region. The facilitation of sailing, water sports and leisure activities at Carsington Water is a key part of our commitment to the management and stewardship of our facilities and resources. We are really looking forward to seeing the reservoir populated with boats and everyone enjoying themselves this summer at Carsington Water."
Ian Bell, Chairman of Derbyshire Youth Sailing, added: "The excitement is mounting and we are really looking forward to seeing the competitors starting to arrive over the weekend before the Regatta.
"The Derbyshire Youth Sailors are also preparing for the event and the level of competition within our own annual racing series is at a very high level. I think they are hoping for a little of the home advantage effect but having seen them sailing so well at this year's events, I think they would do very well, even without it."
Visitors will be welcome to watch the sailing activities that will be taking place from around 10:30 to 4:30 each day between 20th & 25th July, from around the reservoir.
Derbyshire Youth Sailors will be sailing in two more of their series events on the 7th and 14th June at Ogston SC and Carsington SC respectively. Organisers are expecting a healthy turnout at each of these events as local sailors prepare for the National Regatta.
Photo used courtesy of Mike Shaw / www.fotoboat.com