Young sailors are positively encouraged and welcome to join in with all Club activities.

Sailors without boats of their own can use the club's fleet of 6 race rigged Toppers, Optimists, RS Teras, Laser Pico, RS Feva, or the Club's Laser Radial or 4.7

There is a very friendly and active youth section, with high quality coaching for the beginner and improver throughout the season.

The Club is a leading member of the Northamptonshire Junior Circuit and regularly sends representatives to major national youth events such as the Eric Twiname National Junior Finals and National Schools Regatta. The club has several members in RYA Zone Squads, and the National Youth Squads.

2010 Programme

2009 Season Round Up

Another thoroughly rewarding, busy and successful season is completed again, when we have seen our established sailors move to even greater heights and seen terrific promise appear from our newer sailors. Overwhelmingly, we have seen a load of kids having a great time on the water!

Sunday Coaching Sessions and Junior Week

The Hollowell Youth Squad have been doing their stuff, primarily with a view to progressing their racing skills, however the basics of doing well on the race course is boat handling so there have been a few games and fun activities thrown in to develop boat handling without noticing. We have also been lucky this year to receive a few extra days coaching and support from the RYA, Duncan Adams has been the coach we have seen most of and he has had a visible effect on the sailors who have all come on significantly during the year. Notable most improved youngsters have been Sophie Otter, Robin McAllister, Charlie Laundon, Isobel King and David Lennon. Not surprisingly they are the ones who have been coming most often!

The junior week was a great success again this year. As a poor windsurfer myself, I am always amazed at how well the kids do during the windsurfing half of the week and this year’s band of juniors were exceptional. We didn’t get the best weather but I know that didn’t stop anybody enjoying themselves.

The key for the squad now is for them to get out racing more often, not just come along to the coaching sessions. Once a few get out there and race against each other, the more fun and competition will follow and then we will see leaps forward in the performance. I know the grown-ups on the water will welcome them, even though they may slightly resent being beaten by them.

Anglian Water Series

The Anglian Water Series has been a great success this year with a record number of juniors (83) entering from across the whole county. Nineteen of Hollowell’s junior sailors sailed at one or more of the events in the series giving them new opportunities of racing away from their own water. Their positions in their fleets were noticeably improving during the season and I can’t wait to see how they will do next year. Alex Peck, Lawrence Creaser, Arran Holman, Nial Holman and Mike Harding all picked up prizes from at least one of the events and Mike was top under 13 sailor in the series overall.

NSSA Team Racing

Natasha de la Fuente, a member of Northamptonshire B, runner up at the NSSA National Team Racing Championships

Out and About

Hollowell sailors have been active and waving the Hollowell flag around the world:

·         New member, Megan O’Brien represented GBR at the European Laser 4.7 championships in Helsinki

·          Arran Holman represented GBR at the Irish Optimist National Championships coming second in the junior division.

·         Hugh Brayshaw represented GBR at the 420 World Championships at Lake Garda, Italy, and then the European Junior Championships at Lake Ballaton, Hungary.

·         Stephanie Harding sailed in the RS Feva European Championships

·         Sarah Small and Alex Peck sailed at the Topper World Championships in Austria.

·         In addition to those sailors mentioned above, Mike Harding, Natasha de la Fuente, Luke Berry, Chris Berry, Amy O’Brien and Rachel Heggs all sailed in various national events in Toppers and Optimists around the country.

Squad Members

Our roll of honour, Hollowell juniors currently in various RYA and Class Squads:

Hugh Brayshaw – 420 RYA National Youth Squad

Megan O’Brien – Laser 4.7 RYA National Squad

Stephanie Harding – Laser 4.7 RYA National Squad

Natasha de la Fuente – Topper National Youth Squad

Sarah Small – Topper National Youth Squad

Arran Holman – Optimist nationally ranked top 10

Sophie Otter – Topper RYA Junior North Zone Squad

Luke Berry – Topper RYA Junior North Zone Squad

Hugh Brayshaw with helm, Mike Wood, in their 420 winning the National End of Season Championships

Well done to all of our young sailors, not just those at the top but also to those who have just learnt to sail and all those in between. I look forward to another great year in 2010.

 Russell Brayshaw

Dates for the 2010 Diary

Junior and Youth Squad Coaching – Sunday mornings followed by the first race in the afternoon for the Youth Squad

11^th April – Signing on and boat prep

18^th April - Youth Squad only

25^th April

16^th May

30^th May

20^th June - booking in

4^th July

18^th July

1^st August - booking in

15^th August

19^th September

10^th October

24^th October - youth Squad only

Note: there will almost certainly be all-day coaching sessions with an RYA professional coach, these may be additional dates to the above or just extended sessions.

Junior Week – Always over-subscribed so book early

Monday 26^th July to Wednesday 28^th July – dinghies

Thursday 29^th July to Saturday 31^st July - sailboards

Anglian Water Series – events with coaching and racing designed for juniors making their early steps into racing

Saturday 29^th  May –  Middle Nene Sailing Club (Thrapston)

Saturday 26^th June – Banbury Sailing Club

Sunday 11^th July – Hollowell Sailing Club

Sunday 19^th September – Cransley Sailing Club

Saturday 16^th October – Northampton Sailing Club

Hollowell Optimist and Topper Open Meeting