Young sailors compete in World Championships (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Young sailors compete in World Championships

4:44pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in Sport

SEVEN young sailors from Burnham Sailing Club travelled to Lake Iseo in Northern Italy last week to take part in RS Tera World Championships 2012.

Lake Iseo is one of the smaller lakes in the Northern Italian lake region and the winds are very localised and shifty, very different from those the sailors experience on the river Crouch.

The regatta was started with a practice race on Sunday and was followed by a ten-race series, the fleet being split into two for the two sail sizes of the Pro and the Sport.

Because the winds were so changeable, on three days to ensure some sailing breeze the sailors were on the water at 6.30am which meant a 5am start.

In the Pro fleet, James Hutton-Penman, the UK National Champion, led for much of the regatta only to be disqualified and then over the start line in the final two races to finish second overall.

His sister Kathryn finished seventh and was third girl and Flynn Davies, who finished second in the UK National Championship, finished eighth.

In the sport fleet, Niamh Davies finished 16th and was awarded first girl and Lucy Greenwood finished 18th and was third girl.

The two younger sailors competing found the conditions a little more difficult but still finished very creditably with Ben Hutton-Penman finishing in 23rd and Griff Davies 33rd.