“I think that’s what sailing is about – meeting new people, having fun and enjoying sailing."
” …. some of you would want to do it next year.”
Report by William West
Hi, my name is William and I am an RS Tera sailor. In the past three weeks I have been to the RS Tera World Championships and the RS Tera National Championships. I have enjoyed both and I really want to do them again.The Tera Worlds were in Italy and we had to do a two-day drive to get there - it took a really long time but I think it was worth it.
I met some of my friends and we had a really nice time. We enjoyed everything except the sailing! The wind was really awful – it was really light and patchy; except on the last day, but sadly I couldn’t sail that day as a couple of nights before I’d had an ear infection and it was really hurting. Most of the time we spent jumping in and out the water and also spending time sat around unfurling and furling our sails! When we did get out there it was OK: we had to sit around for a bit, but most of the time we got at least two races in. Overall the Worlds were really fun and exciting and I really want to do them again. Maybe with more wind next time!
After the Tera Worlds, we had to do another two-day drive to get back to the Isle of Wight for the Tera Nationals. The club that was hosting it was called the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was really nice and I would really like to sail there again. I especially enjoyed the drive over from the mainland in the RIB. The first day’s sailing was really, really windy. (Ed – max gust recorded was 34 kts). Sadly, I didn’t go out as I got hit on the head and I think it was a little bit over my limit. But the boats that did, did really well and were very tired the next day!
The next day was a little less windy, and it dropped each day we were sailing. The next day I did go out and completed a couple of the races, before I came in. I was still a little nervous from yesterday. The third day I went out and did all the races - it was really nice conditions and I really enjoyed it.
I think overall it was really nice, and I think some of you would want to do it next year.
Can I just say a big thank you to the clubs which hosted the championships, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and the Italian club ANS, the Class Association who organised them; as well as the RS team, and Rooster and Allen who were the main sponsors of the Nationals. Can I also say a big thank you for my parents who helped and supported me through this trip.
Looking back at it, the best bits were the food and the sailing, but I also liked the fact I could meet new people. At the Worlds I met some of the German team and tried some of my German on them: I thought that was really nice, and I think that’s what sailing is about – meeting new people, having fun and enjoying sailing.
Photographs by Duncan West (Worlds) and Nicola Solly (Nationals)
Starcross results
RS Tera Nationals – Sport Fleet
9th (2nd girl) Pip Paley
21st Tom Solly
62nd Will West
71st Archie Kemmish
RS Tera Nationals – Pro Fleet
6th Henry Reed
RS Tera Worlds
Sport Fleet - 39th Will West
Pro Fleet - 4th Henry Reed