RACING NEWS

Mat Ford has kindly sent on some pictures of our long-awaited return to racing action on 10/04/21.

28th March saw ELYC Race Squad have their first coaching session of 2021.  Covid restrictions have sadly meant a bit of a gap since the last one, but the cadets thoroughly relished their time on the water together.  The session was led by our very own Steve Fraser who kindly stepped in as the regular squad coaches were not yet able to travel to East Lothian.  Amid windy conditions, the squad practiced starts and triangular courses.  Roll on the next session!

Those in and around the racing, and training scenes at ELYC will be very aware of some of the very talented young sailors currently lining up on our start lines. Rory Ferrier is one such sailor. 

Rory has recently stepped into the Laser class and is showing a drive an determination which is an example to us all.

Having sailed his Laser just four times, Rory submitted an application to RYA Scotland's Performance Manager, Matt Toynbee and Laser class coach Iain McLaughlin, to be considered for two non-residential training camps to be held towards the end of November and early December. The selection criteria for the camps are as follows:

       •   Commitment to progressing along the pathway towards the British Sailing Team

       •   Potential to develop adaptive expertise and to excel in developing key skills

       •   Application of the British Youth Sailing Values and Behaviours

Rory had already impressed Iain McLaughlin at a recent RYA Academy session at Dalgety Bay, having given some older and more established Laser youth sailors a real run for their money. 

So much so that Iain and Matt penned a lovely email to Rory, inviting him to the first camp at Port Edgar this weekend (14/15th November). To be one of only five Laser sailors in Scotland to be invited to said camps, shows just how far Rory has come and how hard he has worked during his youth sailing career.

But wait.....there's more! Steve Cockerill from Rooster also learned of Rory's rise through the ranks and is not only sponsoring Rory, but has asked him to be an Ambassador for Rooster. 

Steve was impressed with Rory's passion and humility and wanted to do something for Rory. Quoted as saying "WOW young Ferrier, your story brought back memories of my youth. You WILL go far!" What an achievement!

Rory's Dad, Colin, had this to say. "For Rory and me, our hearts lie off the coast of North Berwick, the opportunities for Rory’s development often lie elsewhere, so when he’s around in NB, he’ll be keen to come down to sail at the Club and do what he loves most, exchanging stories and fun with the members, young and old".

Hard work personified. Go get em', Rory. ELYC will be cheering you on.

Commodore Nick Roche has kindly forwarded on some pictures of Autumn 3's Saturday racing.

The brave souls who took to the water managed to get two races in before beating a hasty retreat due to a heavy squall and a building swell.

Congratulations to Brendan & Ellen, Fi & Helen who finished 1st and 3rd respectively at the RS 200 Scottish Championships. Click for more.

Derek Braid, Nick Roche and Donald MacKinnon have provided us with some great photos of some of the action and activities of various club members, as we carefully and respectfully return to the water sports we love.

Enjoy!

Racing (for some) is back! The Lockdown Shakedown is on for this Saturday afternoon. If you have at least 2 seasons experience and participation in at least 10 sailing events in 2019 under your belt, register for one of the 3 racing flights departing this coming Saturday, via one of the following event links:

Flight 1 - 2pm start

Flight 2 - 2.20pm start

Flight 3 - 2.40pm start

There is a maximum of 5 boats per flight. Existing registrations should be visible on the event registration page for each flight to enable dinghy classes to self-organise. Club dinghy hire is not available at the present time so this is Own Boat only.

Please read and abide by the COVID-19 Operating Procedures, specifically:

Arrive ready to go afloat or be prepared to change outdoors. The dinghy park offers some sheltered spaces.

Stay in your allocated flight of five boats, do not interact with or join other flights on shore.

Allow flights ahead of you to launch before moving to the beach.

Do not use the harbour hose for wash down, fill a bucket before your launch and wash down in your dinghy space.

Race safe!

The ELYC open regatta originally planned for 6-7 June is, of course, cancelled. If sailing resumes this year, we will re-schedule the open regatta for a weekend in September or October and we will issue a NoR when it is safe and sensible to do so.

Great to see Rory and Roo doing superbly well at the first ever Virtual Eric Twinham Regatta, representing Scotland and of course ELYC!

The real event has obviously been postponed due to current restrictions, but not to be denied completely, preparations were made by British Youth Sailing and the Eric Twinham Trust to run the tournament online using Virtual Regatta. Roo and Rory competed in the Topper class and made their way through a fleet of 60 competitors to finish 3rd and 4th respectively!

You can read more about the event and results here.

Remember, you can take part in ELYC's Virtual Regatta events on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Saturdays at 4pm.

Great news for Rory and Roo who have both been selected to represent Scotland in the Topper class at the 34th annual Eric Twiname Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club in May (edit - fingers crossed for the boys that this event is quickly rescheduled).

Entry to this event is open only to members of an RYA Zone or Home Country Squad only. This highlights just how much effort Roo and Rory (and the supporting parents of course!) have put in over the winter to get to where there are now!

Roo - "I was so thrilled to be selected to represent Scotland in Toppers at the Eric Twiname Championships scheduled  for May.  This came after a lot of hard work over the winter.  I have a lot to thank my RYA and ELYC coaches for.  I know the event has had to be cancelled this year due to the virus, but I hope to be there next year.  I’m thinking about it already!  I am doing what I canto gain fitness and keep healthy and can't wait to be back out on the water.  I’m also polishing my Topper to within an inch of it’s life."

Rory - “When I was selected to sail for Scotland racing at the Eric Twinhame event in May, my Mum and Dad broke out crying and I was beaming.  I could not believe it.  I was certainly not expecting it.  I couldn't have done it without support from my family and friends and especially the club.  I am so lucky that I go to a club that is open to all types of pathways from performance racing to just going for a joyride.