Ben sailing from strength to strength
Posted on: August 22nd 2022School News
Congratulations to Senior School pupil Ben W who has been participating in a variety of sailing events during the summer, with some fantastic results.
Ben, who will start year 10 in September, started learning to sail 6 years ago and began racing regularly a few years later.
At the end of summer 2021, he won the Optimist class in the RYA North regional junior champs, resulting in him being selected for the regional training group.
Ben commented about his recent sailing experiences, saying: "After a national selection event this year I was selected for the British team to go to the Coupe Internationale d’été- a competition in France in July, which was a very different experience to sailing in the UK due to the temperatures and number of boats (there were around 400 entered). The event took place on a large lake, quite close to the sea but the first day was cancelled because of extreme heat, a very novel idea for me!! I learnt lots about racing with so many people and I was also able to practice my French.
"A few weeks later I went to Largs on the Clyde for the British Nationals. It was much colder than France but great fun and with variable wind conditions. After the 6 days of racing, I came in the top 30, which I was happy with after some mixed results".
Ben spoke about his upcoming ambitions: "Next year I am planning to sail a RS Feva – a two person boat which will be very different to the boats I am used to sailing in, but I am looking forward to it. I competed with my crew in the Regional Championships this year and came third, which I was very pleased with as it was one of my first races in a Feva.
Ben has also done some instructing, in addition to regular racing and training at Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, something that he finds enjoyable and plan to do more of, possibly as part of his DofE volunteering.
Ben concluded: "For me, sailing is a very fun way to get outside, be active and meet new people, and being on the water can be very relaxing".
Well done for your racing so far Ben, and everyone at MGS wishes you all the best in your upcoming sailing events!
(Ben has sail number 5500 in these Optimist Class photographs)