Extreme conditions scupper day one of the 2018 Youth Nationals

The pursuit of a 2018 RYA Youth National Championship title was put on hold for the eager young sailors in Largs, Scotland, as the full racing schedule was postponed on day one.

For the 227 sailors at the premier youth event, a tilt at a national title will have to wait for another day as PRO Ian Bullock announced that the weather conditions posed too great a risk for racing to take place as multiple forecasts have the winds above 25 knots gusting to over 40 with a wind chill of -5.

“Safety is paramount when it comes to any regatta,” Bullock said, “The race committee and local experts all came together to unanimously decide that with the predicted wind and dramatically falling temperatures sending anyone out sailing was too big a risk.

“We appreciate that all competitors are excited to get going, but we want to make sure that is done with everyone’s best interests in mind.”

Weather forecasts for day two look more promising as the predicted winds begin to drop to racing levels, however Bullock and the race committee will continue to monitor the weather before any further announcements are made.

Day two racing at the 2018 RYA Youth National Championships is scheduled to begin at 10:55 GMT on Tuesday 2 April.

The annual RYA Youth National Championships is the UK’s premier youth racing event. This year’s regatta is taking place in Largs, Scotland, and will feature around 200 young sailors aged between 14 and 21.
Day 1 – Strong Easterlies cancel racing for the day.
Images: Marc Turner / RYA
For further information contact:
Richard Aspland,
RYA Racing Communications Officer (on site)
E: richard.aspland@rya.org.uk
m: 07469 854599

You can follow the event build-up on the event website, British Youth Sailing Facebook page and on Twitter at @RYAyouthsailing. Share your comments with us using #RYAYouths.

This story is from the RYA.