Last week saw CBYC Youth teams competing at the 2022 RYA Youth Nationals held this year in Plas Heli, Pwllheli. Fleets consisted of Nacra's, 29er's, 420's, ILCA6's (formerly known as Lasers) as well as IQ Kite Foils and Windsurfers, with CBYC having representation across 3 of the fleets.
Monday morning dawned with 35kt gusts across the 6 race courses causing postponements across all fleets, however by mid afternoon the 35kts had disappeared to be replaced with almost no wind. Racing did however get underway for the 29ers, 420s, Nacras and ILCA classes. In the 29er fleet, CBYC sailor Ewan Plowden-Wardlaw and helm made a strong start to the event with two top 4 finishes in the first 3 races putting them in early contention for medals. In the 420 fleet, CBYC had representation in 6 of the 38 boats, which is a fantastic showing. Will Martin and helm lead the CBYC fleet with a 6th and 2nd in the first 3 races, closely followed by Ellie Thomas and helm with a 5th and a 6th and Ellie Creighton and crew with a 4th and a 7th. In the ILCA fleet, despite being black flagged in Race 2, Honor Proctor, showed early promise with a 5th and a 6th in the 23 strong ILCA6 fleet.
Tuesday dawned with light winds forecast and another postponement, a pattern that would repeat itself for the next 4 days. In the 29er fleet Ewan and helm continued their good form picking up two 5ths and a 2nd. In the 420's the CBYC boats struggled a little in the lighter breezes, however Will Martin and helm did manage a 2nd and a 1st in Races 6 and 7 and Ellie Thomas and helm continued their push for the top spots with an 11th in Race 4 and a 9th in Race 7. Other notable results in the 420's were coming from the very consistent performances of Merle Nieuwland and helm with a 12th in Race 2 and a 15th in Race 5. The one to watch however was in the ILCA class, with Honor Proctor continuing her Day 1 results with 1sts in Races 4, 6 and 7 to put her 2nd overall.
Wednesday and Thursday proved similar conditions to Tuesdays light breezes, the CBYC boats continued to push in the difficult conditions with the tide having an effect on the racecourses almost as much as the breeze.
By Friday morning with a slightly fresher 10kts forecast it was still all to play for in the 29er and ILCA fleets and with podium places still a possibility in the 420 fleet. By the end of racing, Ewan in his 29er finished a very respectable 8th overall, in the 420 fleet Will Martin finished 6th, Ellie Thomas 12th, Ellie Creighton 13th, Merle Nieuwland 21st, Sophie Hankins 34th and Ella Martin / George Self 36th. In the ILCA class Tilly Reynolds finished a very respectable 15th overall and Emelia Finch finished 23rd overall, but it was Honor Proctor that lead the way for CBYC, with 3 more top 3 finishes giving her 2nd overall along with it 1st Welsh and UK National Champion.
A huge congratulations to Honor and a well done to all other CBYC sailors.