Chipstead SC youth sailor award
At the 2019 Dinghy Show Alex Yeates was awarded an RYA Regional Certificate of Achievement as part of the RYAs Regional Youth Champions Awards.
The RYA has been running these awards for the past two years with the aim of rewarding individuals who have demonstrated hard work, commitment and determination to succeed in their sport. Nominees for the awards must have shown success on the racecourse, whether at local, national or international level.
Alex’s nomination for the award was based on his development over the last two years during which time his enthusiasm for his sailing and racing and an increased focus to improve his sailing and racing skills has resulted in him achieving some notable results both at CSC and away at open events.
Alex has been sailing Optimists at Chipstead SC for the past 5 years. During that time he has become a capable and keen club sailor climbing steadily up through the Junior/Youth ranks to become one of the top Juniors at the club.
At the end of 2017 to expand his sailing knowledge and experience he took part in his first open event the Kent Schools Sailing Association Autumn regatta at Downs SC where he came 3rd competing against Toppers and Teras. Then in 2018 he competed in the Royal Corinthian YC Optimist Open meeting coming first in the Regatta fleet after four hard fought races.
This was followed in July 2018 , by him joining the Kent Schools Sailing Association team to compete at the National Schools Sailing Association regatta at Datchect SC. Sailing his Optimist Alex against Fevas, Teras and Toppers he won the Rookie fleet and was awarded the overall under 14yrs trophy.
After winning the Regatta fleet at the Bosham SC Optimist Open meeting he then took part in the Papercourt SC Optimist Open meeting, but this time competing in the main fleet where he came 10th out of 49 boats.
In addition to his open meeting successes Alex has also competed in Chipstead SC events during 2018 winning the Optimist Points series and the end of season Junior and Youth club Championship - the Young Guns Trophy.
At CSC he is a role model for up and coming Optimist sailors, encouraging them to join in with the racing and passing on his enthusiasm and love for the sport.
The photo below, shows of Alex receiving prizes from Ian Walker at the Bosham SC Optimist open meeting. Ian Walker grew up sailing at Chipstead SC and is the Chipstead SC President. He won Olympic silver medals at the 1996 and 2000 games and was skipper of the winning boat in the Volvo Ocean Race, also winning the In-port Series at the same time. Ian is currently the RYA Director of Racing.
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