Sisters Emily and Annabel Ridout on crest of a wave as young NI sailors bring home silverware from British Nationals with World Championships on the horizon

ELEVEN Northern Irish sailors recently travelled to Scotland to compete in the RS Feva British National Championships.

Emily and Annabel Ridout (County Down), Matt and Peter Ridout (County Down) Ross and Martha Nolan (County Down), Ben McCaldin (County Fermanagh), Jessica Dadley Young and Sally Nixon (County Down) and Ellie Nolan and Niamh Coman (County Down), all made the trip over to Dalgety Bay to compete in the 188-sailor fleet for four days of intense racing.

All Northern Irish sailors made it into the Gold Fleet, which represents the top selection of boats after the initial races, highlighting the quality of local sailors here in Northern Ireland.

At the finish of racing, sister duo Emily and Annabel Ridout finished 6^th overall and 2^nd girls’ team. Meanwhile, young sailor Ben McCaldin finished 21^st overall and first Junior. This was Ben’s first competition in this boat, which highlights his overall class as a sailor.

Elsewhere in the fleet, Matt and Peter Ridout finished 12^th, Ross and Martha Nolan finished 17^th, Jessica Dadley Young and Sally Nixon finished 31st and Ellie Nolan and Niamh Coman 35^th.

Following the event, Performance Manager of the Royal Yachting Association of Northern Ireland, Andrew Baker, said: “It was a testament to the team to complete all races in such challenging conditions. Given that not so long ago we could only aspire to having a Fava squad, let alone any results, I am very proud of all our sailors who have forged the way for the development of this class in NI and Ireland.

“I am also encouraged by the number of single-handed sailors getting involved and suggesting they are keen to do double-handed sailing too. Our next step is to build a 29er programme to aid some of the older members to transition over the summer and into the Winter while encouraging the wider NI Sailing community and classes to embrace these young sailors into the sport for life, showing them community sailing can offer.”

Some of these Northern Irish sailors will be travelling to the World Championships which will be hosted at Aix-les-Bains in France in July, so it is encouraging to see them carry strong form through to the summer.