Leader Open at Milton Keynes Sailing Club

Visitors from Bristol & Avon, Melton Mowbray and Dell Quay SC joined the 3 home boats for the final Leader Open Event of 2003 at Milton Keynes SC.

Saturday was grey and gusty and made for testing conditions, with the wind direction changing frequently. In the first race Chris and Jane Wharmby made the most of a port-biased line and led the fleet from the start, with Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Dormer second and Paul and Helen Dickinson third.

In Race 2, Wharmby was well over the line at the start, to the great amusement of Fitzgerald and Dormer who were first to the windward mark. Racing was close throughout the fleet with the Dickinsons battling with Jason Jackson and Crew, and Rob and Helen White taking on Nigel Ridley and Gary French, newcomers to Leader racing. The Wharmbys gradually made their way back through the fleet to finish two seconds behind Fitzgerald and Dormer.

Richard, Christine and Sally Morris arrived on Sunday and added an extra dimension to the racing, constantly threatening the first two boats. Under clear blue skies and a cold northerly Force 3, Wharmby took two first places, to win the Open and the 2004 Open Series.

Second place in the Open Series went to the Sherwen family, and third to Helen and Paul Dickenson. The Morris family, new to the fleet in 2003, took 4th position.

All agreed that MKSC had rounded off the Open Series well with a very enjoyable and sociable weekend. Thanks to everybody for all their hard work.

Overall Results: