Sixteen year old Simon Evans from Northumberland is competing for the third time at the Schools regatta at Derwent Reservoir SC. Having won his class at last year’s event sailing a 420, he’s opted to race a Topper.

So far he results are looking good with two fifths on the first day leaving him in third overall. However, out on the water today (24 July) for the sailpower.com-sponsored Tuesday he made a tactical error, which saw him struggling off the startline in the 100-boat fleet.

SP: So what went wrong with the race today?

SE: As Adam Bowers so rightly pointed out in our morning briefing ‘the winning is in the starting’. Unfortunately I was not there this morning. I got in to bad situation on the start line and rounded the top mark in 20th. I clawed a bit back and eventually finished in 12th or 13th place overall.

SP: Who are your closest rivals out there on the race course this week?

SE: Mark Heather, Danny Boatman, Alex Cruttenden and Jonathan White. There are a lot of really good Topper sailors out there so it’s going to very hard to predict a result.

SP: What’s your immediate sailing ambition?

SE: To sail a Laser at this event next year.

SP: What about the Topper nationals, surely you’ll be competing at that?

SE: Yes, I’m looking forward to that because it’s at Pwhelli and I wan to beat my Topper world championship result of 23rd overall.

SP: What do you enjoy most at the NSSA regatta?

SE: The sailing is good but I really enjoy the social, you meet loads of new friends and the parties are great.

SP: And you are all camping?

SE: Yes, but unfortunately we’ve been a bit naughty over the last couple of nights so our tent is being watched!

SP: I’m sure it is! Good luck with the remainder of the regatta.