North West Senior Travellers at Southport Sailing Club

North West Senior Travellers at Southport © Dave Woodhead

North West Senior Travellers at Southport © Dave Woodhead

North West Senior Travellers at Southport © Dave Woodhead

At the second attempt the first of the 2012 NW Senior Travellers took place in brilliant sunshine and light winds on Tuesday 24th April at Southport Sailing Club.

The first attempt a week earlier had been abandoned as the anemometer had been recording gusts of over 30 knots. On that occasion the GOM (grumpy old men – you have to born before 1962 to take part) had elected to watch the waves with a cup of tea from inside the clubhouse. (yes, you can get waves on Southport marine lake) A good decision, as a week later the lake was suitable for a Southport tourist brochure photo. Mind you some of the GOM were heard to mutter, "could do with a bit more wind!"

With wind across the lake the course by necessity had to have short beats and long reaches. In the first race Tony Critchley from Bolton sailing club shot off to lead in his Supernova. It was just a question of whether anybody in the chasing pack could beat him on handicap. It was always going to be close and when the results were worked out he had managed to beat Dave Woodhead's Solo (Elton S C) by 1 second! Third place went to another Solo, John Cronshaw from Delph S C. In another remarkable result Tony Halliwell's Streaker (West Lancs Y C) and Dave Eccles' Solo (Leigh and Lowton) tied on corrected time to share 4th position. A good mix, with 3 classes and 5 clubs represented in the first 5 boats.

In the second race Tony Critchley blew his chances by being over the line and having to return round the ends, giving Dave Woodhead a lap and half before Tony could catch him. This time there was no doubt as Dave took first place and Dave Eccles took second with Tony third. John Cronshaw was 4th and Tony Halliwell 5th. A pattern was emerging.

It was all to sail for in the third race which began like a repeat of the first one, with Tony Critchley shooting off to an early lead. Meanwhile Dave Woodhead got caught up in a bit of traffic for the first lap allowing Tony to cruise off into the distance. Dave eventually cleared the pack and tried to minimise Tony's early gain. Dave Eccles again showed good speed to be a comfortable third on the water, with John Cronshaw and Tony Halliwell also emerging from the chasing fleet. At the finish no one could be clear who had won and it was only at the prize giving that it was revealed that Dave Woodhead had pipped Tony Critchley on corrected time.

First 2 handed boat was Geoff McLardy and Dave Wood from Elton S C in an Enterprise in 7th place following on from the first 5 and Gary Catterall in 6th (Solo – Delph S C.) Special mention should also be made of our 70 plus sailors, William Birch (Mirror) and Tony Leeson (Laser eps) both form Southport Sailing Club. See full results below.

Due to the re arranged date turnout for this meeting was down on normal but a bumper turnout is expected for the next meeting at Delph S C on Tuesday the 8th May.

Overall Results: