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SPA YOUTH REGATTA - 1998The annual pilgrimage was made to Nieuwpoort Belgium from 4th to the 8th July for the Spa youth regatta. Over 500 sailors were there in Lasers, 420's, Europes, Cadets and 130 Optimists. 25 British helms attended with a high level of success, packing the podium and middle order. On leaving the shelter of the harbour the North Sea beckoned and with the wind always with an element of North in it, the conditions were always testing. The breeze on the whole was around force four a good swell with chop was always encountered. With the level of entries, sailing was in two flights. On the first day Paul Campbell-James put in two "bullets" giving him a share of the lead with Marie VandeGhinste also with a perfect score. Other Brits of note were Nick Thompson 4th, Chris Catt 6th and Gemma Silk 9th. For the whole regatta the tide was a big factor and as the days passed it became stronger and even stronger. This led to some interesting starts as the line bias took less precedence compared with being up tide. The inevitable bunching caused many people to be over and the Black Flag became well used. The second day saw the strongest breeze (gusting six). Three races were held and the fleet was reduced quite a bit but the brits were still well in there. There were wins for Elliot Willis and Jonathan Marshall although Elliot also picked up an OCS. Only one race was sailed on the third day, Nick Asher winning his flight to maintain his position. Day four was make or break day, Hywel Poole got a very credible 7th, Myles Willis showed the best navigation of the fleet to win his race but it was his brother Elliot that put in the most consistent set of results and thus led the fleet going into the last day. Another win there assured him the Regatta. Jonathan Marshall sailed well for second place and Paul Campbell-James lost a tie for third place. With Nick Asher sailing consistently (with a race win) for fifth place and Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes seventh. Those five sailors are the World team at the Optimist Worlds later in July, they will travel in very confident mood. Peter Martin Results: 1st Elliot Willis, 2nd Jonathan Marshall, 3rd Marie VandeGhiste (BEL), 4th Paul Campbell-James, 5th Nick Asher, 6th Wannes Van Lear (BEL), 7th Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes, 8th Jerome Spilleboudt (BEL), 9th Simon Baer (RSA), 10th Laurent Demonent (BEL). Other British placings: 13th Nick Tompson, 17th Ed Huntley, 18th Ed Green, 20th Chris Catt, 21st Nick Cherry, 27th Ben Marshall, 28th Jonathan Fraser, 31st Gemma Silk, 32nd Peter Gray, 51st Paul Burgoine, 53rd Amy Morgan, 54th Myles Willis, 57th Hywel Poole, 72nd Callum McDonald, 75th James Gray, 77th Thomas Mallendine, 76th Kate Barnes, 85th Stephen Powell, 107th Phillip Lasko, 109th Joanne McDonald. |
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