Derbyshire Youth Sailors win Three Counties Regatta

The first three counties youth sailing regatta between Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire / Humberside was won by Derbyshire on Saturday 10^th July at Glossop & District Sailing Club. On Sport Relief day the sailors all sailed more than a mile and part of their entry fee was donated to the charity.

Derbyshire Youth Sailing’s James Lucas (17), who is the 2003 DYS series champion, led the Derbyshire team to victory with Lancashire in second place and Yorkshire / Humberside in third. As well as the team trophy the sailors were competing for honours in four classes of dinghy. The Laser champion was James Lucas (17) from Derbyshire with the Toppers being led home by Phillip Manning (15) from Lancashire. The Optimist champion was nine year old Benjamin Haynes from Derbyshire and the general handicap champion for all other classes of boat was Louis Saunders (17) also from Derbyshire in his Lightning dinghy.

Saturday’s changeable conditions were perfect for a thorough test of the young sailors’ skills and Principal Race Officer, John Mather set interesting courses on the reservoir in the High Peak of Derbyshire known as the Torside Puddle.

Glossop & District Sailing Club’s Commodore, Tim Snellgrove said “It has been a wonderful event with some really top class sailing and close competition between the three counties and among the individual classes of dinghy. We are delighted to have hosted this first event and hope that next year the youth sailors will have just as much fun as they have here today.”

Derbyshire Youth Sailing’s Chairman, Roger Britton commented “We are very proud of our youth sailors’ achievements in this fantastic occasion and their continuing enthusiasm for competitive sailing. We are always keen to welcome new sailors to the series of DYS races.”