A SAILING contest at a Northumberland beauty spot brought together 158 young sailors for a weekend of competition on the water.
The North Region Youth and Junior Championships were held at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club on June 20 and 21, organised by the North East and Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA).
Fiona Spence, chair of NEYYSA and event director, said she was pleased with the outcome of the event, calling it a "fantastic weekend".
"There were sailors there from the north-east and Yorkshire, from Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Liverpool - they came from all over. Some families drove four or five hours to get there.
"Alongside the competition, the celebration and the social element were great to see, because sailing's not all about sailing; it's about the social side and the people you meet and the places you go and the experiences you have.
Fiona also praised the "fantastic" level of volunteer support, noting that there were more volunteers than roles to fill.
Of the 158 sailors, 110 competed in the main championship fleet of 93 boats.
They were supported by coaches throughout the event, with a green fleet available for those transitioning from the regatta fleet to main fleet racing.
A special welfare boat, the Puffin RIB, was also on hand to offer water refills, snacks, and encouragement between races.
A delay due to light winds on Sunday gave sailors the chance to take part in rigging and tuning sessions, as well as rule consultations with event jurors.
The asymmetric fleet included 10 boats across 29er, 2000, and RS200 classes.
Younger sailors in the regatta fleet took part in 15 races and showed "clear improvement" over the weekend thanks to "targeted coaching" and a "supportive environment".
The event also served as the Topper Northern Championships, with prizes and support provided by Sailboat Rigging Systems (SRS).
NEYYSA thanked all the volunteers and supporters who helped make the event possible, with many parents "gaining new skills" to support future events.
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