Windward - Leeward Open at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
By Yorkshire Dales SC on 12 Sep 20113 September 2011The top two battle around the windward mark at the Yorkshire Dales windward/leeward openThe guilty 49er (see report) at the Yorkshire Dales windward/leeward open
All photos © Jane Lister
‘A glut of Smiths’
A good turnout of 26 boats from 6 different clubs were greeted by light and shifty winds at the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club Windward - Leeward Open Meeting held alongside the RS400 open meeting.
The pattern for the day was established in race one which was won by Chris Pickles / Laura Westell in their RS200 followed By Ian Smith in a Phantom, the first visitors, Phil and Naomi Smith from Bassenthwaite in another RS200 and Bill Pickup in a Laser. First trapeze boat was Delphs’ Martin and Barbara Smith in an RS500.
Race two was held back to back – again in light winds did at least provide considerable entertainment for the many who saw the 49er ‘Petheridge Bassra’ take out Adam Larvin helming his RS800 by lassoing him with their spinnaker sheet as the boats passed in opposite directions - launching Adam 4 metres skywards in a (not very) graceful arc before his trapeze hook let go and both boats capsized. Bill Pickup sailed very well to win the race from Chris /Laura and Phil/Naomi and first Junior Callum Escritt in a Topper.
The superb lunch was enjoyed in warm sunshine on the wonderful outside decking – a nice change for this summer.
There was a slight increase in breeze after lunch, which helped Martin & Barbara use their trapeze and climb up to 3rd behind Chris / Laura and Ian Smith. The wind dropped for the final race but the front runners remained the same with Chris & Laura wrapping up the event with another win from Ian, Phil & Naomi, Martin & Barbara and Bill Pickup.
Callum Escritt was first junior in 6th while one of the tightest battles all day was for 7th with two Delph boats, Gary Stephensons Phantom and Patrick Mannings Solution tied on points with exactly the same results – decided in Garys favour due to the last race result.
Full results are available on the Yorkshire Dales SC website.