This Is Guernsey

EIGHTEEN-year-old James Chapple (pictured) has put his British Youth Squad place in jeopardy. He is now contemplating on two simple mistakes, which may ultimately cost him dearly.

This follows two poor race results on day four of the Royal Yachting Association Youth National Championships held in Pwllheli North Wales. Both races were held in marginal light winds of variable direction and were viewed on water by HRH The Princess Royal, president of the RYA.

Race seven started well for Chapple as he took great advantage of a major wind shift at the start of the race. Starting at the opposite end of the line from the committee boat he led away from the start with a clear lead.

However, instead of tacking on to port tack to cross the whole fleet and ‘bank’ the gain that he had created, he carried on a little too far to the left of the course.

The wind then changed direction and blew from the right side of the course, which favoured all those to the right of Chapple and he found himself rounding the first mark of the course in an uncustomary 21st place, 100m behind the leaders.

He never recovered the lost distance but managed to re-claim 4 places to finish in 17th place, his worst result of the series although it could be discarded at the end of the event.

The second race of the day proved a greater disappointment.

The race was destined to be a two-lap course from the outset albeit each lap shorter than normal to allow for a shortening of the course after the first lap should the wind strength diminish too dramatically during the race.

Chapple reached the first mark of the course in third and maintained this position throughout the race. It was at the leeward mark that signals were seen and heard from the mark laying boat to indicate a course change.

This was mistaken by the leader, who assumed that a shortened course was indicated. Chapple by this time had moved in to second, one boat length behind the leader.

The first four boats, who were closely packed and 50m ahead of the fleet, made their way on the 100m dog leg to the finish only to discover that it was not the intention of the race committee to conclude the race at that point.

The rest of the fleet benefitted by continuing on the remaining course.

Chapple re-joined the race and managed to claw his way back to 14th place but that was no consolation for an almost guaranteed top-two place.

After race eight, Chapple has dropped from eighth to 10th overall, with one day and three races to go.