YOUNG sailors took to Grassholme Reservoir for the Teesdale leg of a regional competition.
Ten competitors representing four clubs took part in the RYA North East Youth Travellers (NEYTS) racing series.
Teesdale Sailing and Watersports Club (TDSWC) is one of seven to host races between April and July which serve as an introduction to competition at different venues for the young sailors.
Open to those under 18, at the dale event, the youngest was eight and the oldest 14.
Craft used ranged from the most basic Optimist boats to the more sophisticated Laser Radial.
Five races were staged on a triangular course marked by buoys, with competitors aiming to complete as many laps in the target time of 20 minutes as they could.
TDSWC’s Imogen Gibb said the youngsters had to cope with changeable conditions throughout the day.
“We were faced with very little win at all and then wind direction and level changed.”
One race saw the boats virtually becalmed, with only three making it once round the course in the target time, while in others, up to four laps were completed once the wind picked up.
“It’s nice to get the kids racing against each other. It’s a bigger event than they would have at their club, but not so scary.”
The Teesdale event forms part of the Northern NEYTS events, covering Northumberland, Durham and Teesside, although competitors can come from neighbouring Yorkshire. The action moves on to Derwent Reservoir on June 1 and then Scaling Dam a week later.
