Fifth Dorset Schools Regatta at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) was at the centre of Dorset Schools sailing recently as the ‘Dorset Schools Regatta’ run by SailLaser and funded by the Chesil Trust, attracted ten local schools and involved over 30 pupils to enter the fifth annual event that is fast becoming a rite of passage for upcoming dinghy sailors in the Dorset area.
Ross MacFarlane from Gryphon School in Sherborne was the overall winner taking a highly consistent series into the final race. MacFarlane took 2 first places and a final 2nd place taking the gold medal by 5 points in front of Portland resident, Adam Greaves from Royal Manor School, who started sailing at the WPNSA through the Sail for a Fiver legacy scheme. Also in podium position was James Bishop with a bronze medal from the All Saints School, Weymouth which dominated the race series last year.
Conditions tested these fast developing dinghy racers with wind speeds picking up for the final racing during the afternoon session. The female school sailor, Emma Stevenson from Wey Valley School, clearly thrived in these conditions taking top placed lady in 4th position. Emma was only 1 point off a bronze medal position demonstrating her excellent racing skills on the race track that will soon be hosting Olympic sailors in the 2012 Games.
All of these top four young sailors are frequent visitors to the WPNSA as they sailing regularly with SailLaser as part of their Race Club and Open Training Events.
The Bill Ludlow Trophy, named in honour of the first Chairman of the Chesil Trust and of the Sailing Academy, was won by Bryanston School, Blandford – the fourth school to take the honour in the period that the event has been run.
John Tweed, Chief Executive, WPNSA:
‘The top pack of 4 highly talented young sailors only had 7 points between first and fourth place demonstrating their highly commended standard of sailing and are definitely names to remember in the future sport of sail racing. The quality of racing at the Dorset Schools Regatta increases each year, we are sure to be fostering some serious racing talent at this annual event.’