GJW Tipsy Icicle Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 5

by Paul Heath 6 Feb 2013 15:44 GMT 3 February 2013

Once again a bright and blustery day

The GJW Direct (GJW) sponsored Winter Season continued at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club on Sunday the 3rd February with the fifth weekend of the GJW Tipsy Icicle Winter Series. Just like the weekend before it was a chilly day and a blustery westerly force 4-5 and, as the weekend before, 62 boats once again took to the water which included 16 newcomers racing for the first time thereby taking the total number of boats that have taken part in the series so far to 141.

As usual our dedicated race teams for the day consisted of Peter Baldwin and assistants on the water, Anne & Helen in the galley, Mike Broatch & Ken Lawrenson in Safety 1 and (Streaker) George Evans on the reception desk. With the wind blowing straight down the Flash it made laying the course easy for the AOD who used the lenght of the lake for the beat with plenty of off wind legs to keep everybody on their toes while the Asymetric fleet made do with a windward/leeward course. Racing started at 12 noon on the dot with the Asymmetric fleet away first and this was led by the ever improving team of Curtis Mearns/Jamie Catchpole (Leigh & Lowton SC/29ER) who were followed home by Paul/Mike Allen (LLSC/RS400) and Dave Exley & Nigel Hall (LLSC/RS400)

The first race in the Laser fleet was dominated by Andy Green (LLSC) who sailed off into the distance with Jamie Purcell (Redesmere SC) second and in third, flying the flag for the seniors, was Howard Green (LLSC)

The Handicap fleet was dominated by Christian Day & Sophie Richards (Leigh & Lowton SC/National 12) with Andy Flitcroft (RS300/Bolton SC) second and Stuart Catteral (Supernova/Bolton SC) third

After lunch and a rest the second race of the day, race series 10, was sailed in a building westerly breeze. The Asymmetric fleet was once again won by Mearns/Catchpole however the big story was the RS400 racing between Dave Exley & Nigel Hall who were involved in a tactical battle royale with the Allens which was only resolved at the final mark with Exley/Hall showing great boat speed and cunning to take second in the race (first RS400) from the Allens.

Race 2 in the Laser fleet witnessed Andy Green starting 1 minute and 40 seconds after his fleet started because he had been to busy chatting on the foreshore. Andy then showed his class by overhauling the whole fleet to take the bullet from Graham Macwhirter (UKLA) and Andy Purcell.

In the handicap fleet Christian day/Sophie Richards won once again followed home by the improving Stuart Catteral in second and Mark Platt/Sam Platt (Bolton SC/GP14) in third.

In the Solo fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start) the first race was won by Steve Ferrington (West Kirby SC) Graeme Bristow (LLSC) was second and Paul Heath (LLSC) was third. In their second race Heath, having now learnt to gybe and stay upright, was first with Bristow second and Ferrington third.

The Junior fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start bit now qualifying for fleet status) welcomed three new Topper sailors from Llyn Brenig SC but the fleet was given a master class by the Leigh & Lowton SC Topper of Haydn Griffiths who won both races. Tom Wallwork (Redesmere SC/Topper) scored a 3 & 2, while Steph Wingeatt (LLSC/Topper) scored a 2 & 4 and Michael Platt (Bolton SC/Topper) finished with a 5 & 3.

Once again it was another fantastic day at the club with close racing throughout the fleets. The club would once again like to say a big thank you to all the visitors and members for coming to the Club and to everyone from the club who helped to run the day. See you all on 10th February 2013 for round six of ten – visit www.llsc.org.uk for the results.

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