SAILING
AN Eggleston teenager is taking the British sailing ranks by storm and is now pushing forward for global honours.
Toby Waggett, aged 14, learnt to sail at Grassholme Reservoir, and he has the wind in his sails after a successful run of results in both national and international regattas.
Toby competes in the ILCA (International Laser Class Association) One Design Dinghy Class, boats of 57kg.
In the recent British Open & National Championships 2024 held at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, he was crowned National Champion Overall in the ILCA 4 class.
He also came first in the U16s at this event. Two weeks before, Toby became the ILCA 4 Welsh Champion for 2024.
He has competed across Europe. At Easter, he travelled to Slovenia for the ILCA 4 Youth European Championships, where he finished ninth in the U16s category, and was the highest placed U16 GBR competitor.
He then headed to Portugal in June for the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships and picked up an impressive 15th place in the U16s.
Toby spoke of his future ambitions, “I really enjoy it, and the hope one day is that this will end up being my profession. I really love the sport and enjoy training as well as competing.”
Funding for the sport at a junior age is limited, and competitors rely heavily on sponsors.
“I’d really like to say a big thank you to Ovington Boats that are based in North Shields, they have been a huge help to us.”
Toby has chosen Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club as his base and will continue to train there. He said: “It’s key that we just get time on the water so I take any opportunity I can to train.”
“I have friends at Derwent, so it works pretty well, and we get to sail together.”
He is looking forward to the challenges of next year. The ILCA 4 Youth European Championships takes place in Poland, in June, before heading to the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Los Angeles in July – the biggest event he has been a part of so far on his sailing journey. Hopes are high this talented teenager will make a big splash in the competition.
