Skudder shines as wind makes headlines at RYA Youth Nationals

Daniel Skudder was the man who made light work of heavy winds as the young windsurfer triumphed in what turned out to be the only race of a difficult second day at the 2008 RYA Youth National Championships and Trials

With winds gusting up to 35 knots and swells of some 4ft in and around a gloriously sunny Pwllheli Sailing Club, several attempts to get all classes out racing were made before the decision to first postpone the SL16, 29er and Radial classes and then the 420s and Laser Standards came at 12.30pm and 2.05pm respectively.

A drop in the breeze mid-afternoon presented the opportunity for the RS:X windsurfers to get out on the water and it was Skudder, sixth overall at the 2007 RYA Youth Nationals, who handled the conditions best winning the 30-minute race ahead of Ed Strange and Jacob Brubert.

His overall 1-2-3 record puts Stockwell sailor Brubert at the top of the RS:X pile, with all classes now having completed three races going into day three.

David Campbell-James, Event Principal Race Officer, admitted it had been a taxing day in Cardigan Bay. He said: “It has been a difficult day but we were committed to getting racing underway if and when it became safe to do so. We have a real mix of people at this event, the top Youth guys and sailors with very limited experience at regattas of this scale.

“Safety has been paramount all day and the safety people have done a really great job in what, at times, have been really quite unpleasant conditions. It’s been windy and it’s been rough.”

To keep the sailors entertained while decisions were being made as to racing, two-time Olympic 49er medallist and Skandia Team GBR sailor Simon Hiscocks presented the second of his coaching debriefs to some 200 youngsters in the event marquee this morning.

Racing is scheduled to get underway again this morning (Wednesday 2 April)  at 11am. For full results visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk