Year 11 Jess C only started sailing a 29er at the beginning of the summer. She and her helm have just been selected for the 29er Class Development Squad which is a great achievement, and they are one of the youngest pairs in the fleet. A 29er is sailed by a pair of sailors, usually aged from 15 to 19. They will be training at sailing venues across the country throughout the winter as part of the squad – this weekend they are going to Rutland in the Midlands.
Recently Jess and her partner took part in the 29er Winter Championships in Weymouth where they competed against 40 other boats. They came second overall in the U16s junior class – a real achievement!
Younger brother Year 9 Ben has also sailed from an early age along with his family, and has recently been selected for the Regional Training group after being talent spotted at an event. Ben sails an RS Feva and he recently came third in the RYA RS Feva South Championships in Weymouth.
The sailing siblings both crew and their partners helm – Jess is on the trapeze, controlling the main sheet upwind and the spinnaker downwind, while Ben controls the jib, a smaller sail.
