Harvey sails to the top of the world

Alfreton’s rising sailing talent, Harvey Martin, has been crowned World Champion with his sailing partner Bobby Hewitt at the Allen RS Feva World Championships in Carnac, France.

Ogston Sailing Club’s Harvey and Warrington-based Hewitt, both aged 15, add the World title to the European and National titles they won earlier in the year to make it a memorable 2014 golden hat-trick.

Competing against 188 other boats from 20 different countries, the pair posted a consistent set of scores across the 14 race series.

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Picking up four race wins and nine top 10 finishes, the pair claimed the World title by 13 points in front of their GBR counterparts Piers Nicholls and Freddie Peters, who sealed silver.

“It feels brilliant to win a World title! Our main aim coming into the regatta was to finish on the podium so we are really happy to finish the event as World champions,” said Martin.

“It was a tough week both mentally and physically with 25 knots down to three knots at times so we had a big range of conditions to compete in.”

Having won the 2013 World title with former sailing partner Hannah Bristow, Bobby added: “It’s great to win the title for a second year and relief that we have finally done it. We had quite a big fleet this year with some big sailors so it was tough competition on the windy days but we really enjoyed it and had such a good time.”

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Roy McCubbin, RYA double handed Pathway manager, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Harvey and Bobby to win the World title. It’s the perfect way to cap off not only what has been a successful year for the two but also a very successful time in the RS Feva XL dinghy.

“In such a highly competitive fleet, and after an starting penalty in the opening race of the regatta, the boys showed great professionalism to put that result to the back of their minds and go on and sail a consistent winning series.

“The duo have dominated the RS XL Feva class this year with some stand out performances across a number of regattas.”

The boys are now moving up into the 29er high performance double-handed Youth class and are heading to the 29er Nationals in North Berwick near Edinburgh next week, for what will be their very first event in their new class. They are hoping to be selected for the RYA 29er Transition Squad this winter.

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As a member of the RYA talent pathway squads, Harvey receives training and coaching support, helping him to develop his racing skills, knowledge and techniques.

He has also received support from the Derbyshire Institute of Sport as well as Ogston SC’s own Harry Fisher Trust, which has provided him with new sails for both his previous Topper and Feva campaigns.

Harvey and his family were introduced to sailing through a try sailing for free Open Day at Ogston SC seven years ago, after the then eight-year-old had been inspired by the Swallows and Amazon books, read to him by his mum Sara.

Ogston Sailing Club is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of safety and quality.

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If you think you could follow in the Martins’ footsteps or would simply just like to know more about getting into sailing at Ogston SC visit www.ogstonsc.co.uk

For all the latest news and full list of results from the Allen RS Feva World Championships visit www.rsfeva.org/championships and for more information on the RYA Youth Racing programme please visit www.rya.org.uk/racing.

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