Anna Broad (left) and Victoria Upton of Exe Sailing Club

Exe Sailing Club young sailors competed at the RYA Volvo South West Zone Championships at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club.

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Victoria Upton of Exe SC helmed her ‘RS Feva XL’ with crew Josh Geare (Saturday) and Anna Broad (Sunday) to win first female helmed boat in the class, finishing twelfth overall.

Elliot Wells with crew Jake Todd, won overall, winning all six races - an impressive and outstanding performance.

This two day event comprised six great races over two days for Optimist, Topper and RS Feva XL classes of sailing dinghies from across the South West .

Each class had good turnout, their own starts - necessary with 43 Toppers, 18 Fevas and 23 Optimists!

Day one saw near perfect sunny conditions on the picturesque lake with wind five to 10 knots and the odd gust of up to 15knots.

Sunday was a different story – overcast, with winds of 12-15 knots gusting 20-25knots.

To their credit the Exe boat completed all six races - no mean feat in the blustery conditions of Sunday, when for many, more time was spent in the water than in their boats.

Indeed in the last race they posted their best result of seventh.

Another feature of the event was the availability, and support of Kate MacGregor. The 2012 Olympian was freely on hand to offer top tips and advice throughout the day.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and motivational event for young sailors, with great organisation and hospitality from both the RYA and Chew Valley Sailing Club.

Overall results for each class were: RS Feva XL: 1, Elliot Wells/Jake Todd; 2, Huw Nunn/Dominic Cotterill; 3,Edward Norbury/Charlie Hutchings and the first female helm; Victoria Upton/Anna Broad. Topper; 1, Luke Robertson; 2, Emily Lloyd ( also first female helm); 3, Paris Thomas. Optimist: 1, Jamie Harris; 2, Ryan Bush; 3, Ben Gray: First female helm in the Optimist class was Rosie Williamson