Starcross YC Junior Regatta, August 2021

An energetic fleet of 38 children took part in the inaugural Starcross YC Junior Regatta, held on the River Exe over four days from 14-17 August and open to entrants from River Exe clubs. The format of the event was 2-3 short races each day, with the fleets divided into a very competitive Gold fleet and a coached Silver fleet. In between racing a full timetable of beach games, camp-overs and discos took place, leaving lots of exhausted but smiling children at the end of four days.

The event experienced a wide variety of conditions, with races in six knots of breeze up to the final two days in an 18-knot north-westerly.

The Gold fleet was won by Hannah Carruthers sailing her Cadet with crew George Cox-Olliff, with Tom Semmens second in a Topper 4.2 and Huw Beare third in his Topper. The Silver fleet was won by Jess Upchurch, with Amelie Ballantyne second in her Topper and Noah Helm third, also in a Topper. The top three of the Silver fleet were all sailing in their first regatta, and for many in the Silver fleet this was their first-ever racing!

The event was very generously sponsored by Exe Sails and Covers, Exeter School, Seawood Chandlery, Rope Locker, Admiral Trailers and Sainsburys. This allowed a very full set of prizes, and entry fees to be kept to next to nothing. A huge thanks to all our sponsors and also to the small army of volunteers who made this event such a huge success.