Newbiggin by the Sea Sailing Club

Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland, NE64 6EG

The third of this Trident-UK sponsored series was held at Newbiggin by the Sea and in spite of the awful weather forecast more than twenty young sailors turned out to sail.

The breakers on the shore looked daunting but with a lot of help everyone got through them except 10 year old Joric Gebhard who was simply swamped in his Optimist.

Officer of the Day Peter Chambers had a difficult task setting a course in the brisk shifting wind and big swell, but the Tynemouth RS400 with Philip Murray and Matt Ayre ob board set ab impressive pace and had a very fast spinnaker hoist on the off wind leg. Michael Lord, Tees and Hartlepool, in a Radial also enjoyed the reach, although little could be seen of him amidst the spray. The toppers were having a hectic time with Eve English, South Shields finally pulling away from Philip Richardson SSSC, and Peter Logg SSSC, just beating Peter Hobson, Sunderland YC on the line .Bruce Carnaby and Sarah Birch, in a 420 were first of the Home Club, followed by Christian Lindley with Graham Birch in the other Club 420. The Newbiggin Toppers of Paul Bouton and Jonathan Lamberth followed. Fortunately the wind had swung by the end of the race and the tide had turned, so getting back ashore was a lot easier than leaving, much to the relief of the four sailors for whom this was their first experience of sea sailing, Nevertheless, Nicholas Walker and Paul Hill of Scaling Dam and Anita Brabazon and Mark Morrison from Ashington Sea Scouts were all determined to go out again,

The second race set off in fitful wind conditions, Jake Gebhard of Derwent Reservoir was just be in second Topper place when the wind dropped dramatically and then he was at the back ! That's sailing ! The RS and the same group of Toppers, this time including Joanne Ramsey and Ruth Hutchinson, chasing and Lord, Radial, giving good competition.

Superb and efficient hospitality, both on and off the water made this a great days sailing, in a club which is doing a fantastic amount of work to especially encourage the youth of the locality to participate in the sport.