Penzance Youth Sailing success at “Feva Frenzy”

Last Saturday eight youth sailors from Penzance Sailing Club went to Stithians Lake to compete in ‘Feva Frenzy.’ It saw competitors from Fowey, Rock and Stithians all competing head to head in RS Fevas – hence the name. With our two teams ‘Team Skulls’ and ‘Team Crossbones’ ready they got underway with the first of thirty-six races, each being about 7 minutes long.

The teams raced with four people in two boats and they would each time race another team from another club in each race. From the beginning ‘Team Skulls’ showed promise winning their first few races. ‘Team Crossbones’ also doing well with a 1st and a 4th in a number of races, however to win a race overall you cannot be placed 4th.

Gallant Gladiators of Fowey were the main competition for ‘Team Skulls’ as they were also the only unbeaten team. We saw a gap when the Gladiators were disqualified for bad sportsmanship. Skulls excelled, however the wind suddenly dropped at the reservoir and the team made up of Ben Wilkinson, Matthew Spencer-Smith, Henrietta Wilkinson and Grace Wilkin got caught in a hole, which saw their rivals go over the finish line in 1st and 2nd. Team Crossbones improved hugely through the day once the wind picked up a bit. They were Thomas Hickson, Tom Stansbury-Shepard, Jake Williamson and Nathan Trewellern.

The results were in and after thirty-six very competitive races Crossbones finished 9th and there had to be a tie-breaker race for 2nd. This saw ‘Team Skulls’ and a team from Stithians race it out. Well half our team didn’t realise there might need to be a race and got changed already, we rustled them together and they were out on the water in no time!

The support team of Skulls sat and watched hoping that they could clinch 2nd. It was a great race and after lots of encouragement from the beach they finished and ‘Team Skulls’ had got the 2nd. In celebration we saw Ben Wilkinson take his shorts off which resembled the Union Jack!

It was a great day for the sailors and spectators alike with a nice breeze and the sun shining. At the end of the day everyone assembled on the beach for the prizegiving with Mark Belshaw, Cornwall’s youth development officer, handing out the prizes. ‘Crossbones’ received certificates and goodies for coming 9th, while ‘Team Skulls’ also received a big cheer as they got their medals and were thanked for their efforts.

For more information regarding learning to sailing with Penzance Sailing Club visit www.pzsc.org.uk/youthsailing

See the RYA article about the event [RYA Newsletter...]

Katherine Sharp
22 September 2008