Victoria Carrington reports on the youth trophy where 14 of Paxton Lakes younger members had a weekend of coaching and racing for the PLSC Youth Trophy.

On the 30th and 31st August 14 sailors competed for the Youth Trophy. We had perfect conditions, 8-10 knots of wind and 26 degrees but a lack of sunshine. Split into 2 groups, more advanced racers and beginners, we had race training during the morning.  People who had never done any racing learned how to start, the starting sequence and basic rules. Those who had done more racing worked on improving their speed.  

After a break for lunch we had two races. The first race was won by a beginner, Callum Turner (very well done), followed by Hannah Whiteside.  In the second race Hannah moved up to first with Jonathon Leeding coming second.

We then had another short break, a change of course and two more races with sun this time! Again in this race Hannah came first with Jonathon close behind but of the beginners Callum Turner and Sarah Bray did very well.  In the fourth and final race the first two places were same again but out of the new racers Bonnie Usher had a very good race moving up from 9^th in the previous race to 6^th in this one.  

All the sailors arrived on the second day to a dull and misty Sunday with a complete lack of wind. A brief discussion on rules occupied our wait for wind and after a delayed start we competed in our (slow) 5^th race. 

 In this race Alice Parker came first with Katrina Curtis close behind. Beth Sharpe, of the beginners, did very well and came 3^rd. On a very short course we managed 2 laps in the best part of an hour so we stopped for lunch in the hope that the conditions would improve. We had hoped in vain because there was, if anything, even less wind than before. Never-the-less we sailed anyway and Katrina came first and Alice second. Camille Redman did well and came third.  With a tad more wind we went out for the final race of the weekend. Some people managed 4 whole laps and no-one had to be towed back in at the end!!!! Katrina came first with me and Alice just after. Of the beginners, William Russell did very well in fourth.   

We had four categories of age and ability for the presentation of medals. The first was for those who had started racing this year. Bonnie Usher won silver and with a couple of very good races Beth Sharpe took the gold.

In the 11 and under category Sarah Bray won the bronze and Camille Redman Silver. William Russell took gold.  

In the 13 and under group Callum Turner won gold and Hannah Whiteside was close behind with silver and Beth Sharpe had the bronze medal.   

In the 14 + category Katrina Curtis won the gold medal, Alice Parker won silver and I took the Bronze.  

Finally, over all Callum Turner came fourth, I won the bronze medal, Alice Parker took silver. Very well done to Katrina Curtis who won the gold medal and the youth trophy!!!  

Paxton Lakes Youth Trophy Race Final Results here

PLSC Youth Trophy Pictures here