RS Tera Inland National Championships 2023 Burton Sailing Club, Foremark Lake, Derbyshire
Published 13:13 on 30 Jun 2023
Jack Booth, Nova Robertson and Tilly Trafford secured an afternoon off school and left Worthing at lunchtime Friday 23.6.23. Aaron and Guy did a great job of securing boats, masts, rudders and the tent onto the trailer. The car looked tiny compared with the triple stacker it was towing. Thanks to Caleb for the shout-out en route!
We arrived 6½ hours later at Foremark Reservoir in National Forest, Derbyshire. The first 5½ hours were the worst after that the kids calmed downa bit. The four of us managed to get the boats off the trailer and part rigged, ready for Saturday morning.
The tent went up like a dream (thank you Robin for the lesson in the back garden last month!) I was impressed with how involved, helpful and intuitive the kids were when helping especially when bribed with fresh pizza.
The next morning was the Welcome Meeting by the RS Tera Association and Burton Sailing Club for about 90 children.
In the main fleet (76 boats) there were entries from the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, Stockton on Tees, North Wales, The Lake District, Brightlingsea, Frensham Pond and everywhere in between.
We were in the Regatta Training Fleet, which increases the children's understanding the type of courses they will be sailing at these competitive events, such as windward / wing marks, what to expect on the start & finish lines (pin end buoys, hook finishes etc). Their coach was Dylan Collingbourne who is the RYA designated RS Tera coach for the South of England and himself a former RS Tera (and RS Feva) champion.
We had our own separate briefing, when Dylan went through what they would be learning and why.
Launching was easy with plenty of room for everyone - no shingle or shore dump
The boat handling this weekend particularly concentrated on improving balance so they were able to do stand-up roll tacks (including star jumps and 360 degrees turns in the hull); and what the kicker does on Teras and when and how to use it in these particular wind conditions. On the water Dylan was infinitely patient and kind to the children, encouraging and managing them brilliantly.
There were also unexpected highlights of the weekend such as huge chocolate cakes sold in the club house, and a playground which allowed the kids to mingle and make new friends with their seemingly endless energy to use up!
The facilities of the club were great infinite work behind the galley from an army of volunteers to feed nearly 90 children plus parents; RS Tera Secretary, Marcus Collingbourne on site to expertly co-ordinate the event; sufficiently large, clean changing rooms; a well-stocked bar (which apparently was used until the early hours of Saturday morning by parents keen to participate in the camaraderie of the event); and huge amounts of room for parking, trailers, boat rigging and camper vans.
Prize giving for the Regatta Fleet:
Fantastic event, great venue and the children were as excited when they left as when they first arrived.
Huge thanks to Jack and Nova so mature, so helpful, an absolute credit to their parents which meant the weekend was relaxed, happy and straightforward. Tilly, you were great too! Very grateful to Worthing Sailing Club for the loan of the boats and the trailer, making this valuable experience possible and encouraging deeper learning for all three children in this amazing skill of sailing that will stay with them for life.
JoJo Trafford 29.6.23