Revett Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 3
by Paul Heath 27 Nov 2014 11:16 GMT
23 November 2014
Leigh & Lowton Revett Series day 3 © Paul Alllen
Sunday 23rd November was week 3 of the Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club Revett Winter Series and once again optimistic competitors arrived to find that the weather forecast was correct and there was hardly a breath of wind to be found around Pennington Flash. A few people decided that a cup of tea and a bacon butty were needed before they went home while others decided to stay ashore and watch. Those who decided to wait were rewarded with a light north westerly breeze that filtered down the Flash. In the end 45 boats took to the water and all fleets set off around the cans in a fluctuating wind that shifted back and forth as it tried to swing around to the predicted westerly.
The 9 boat Laser fleet was first away and, after a weekend off, Mark Lunn (LLSC) returned to the fleet and took the win. Gareth Staples-Jones (LLSC) came home in second while Mike Baldwin (LLSC) was third.
The 11 boat Asymmetric fleet were next away and it was series leader Paul/Jude Allen (LLSC – RS400) who hit the front but were made to work hard for the win as they were chased hard by the RS400s of Tony/Lisa Woods (Royal Etherow SC) and new comers to the series Robin Dawson/Phil Banter (Bass SC) The top three finished in that order.
Last fleet away were the 25 boats that started under the handicap fleet flag (this included 13 Solo and 4 junior boats the results of which will be abstracted at the end of the series and separate prizes awarded)
In the handicap fleet it was Steve Blackburn (LLSC) in his Streaker who revelled in the light stuff to take the win on handicap. Second overall, having a break from crewing the series leading X1 and borrowing his X1 helms Phantom, was Steve White (LLSC) who managed to hold off fellow Phantom sailor Mark Dingsdale (LLSC) who finished third on handicap.
In the Solo fleet the top three places were made up of LLSC club sailors Malcolm Waddington, Dave Kelsall and Chris Helsby who finished in that order.
Only 4 boats in the junior fleet this week due to squad events elsewhere but proving 'you have to be in it to win it' the series leader, and recently crowned LLSC junior club champion, Olivia Cuthbert (Optimist) took the win from the improving Maddie Bristow (LLSC – RS Tera Sport) in second and Natasha Helsby (LLSC – Topper) in third.
During lunch the conditions did not appear to get any better but once on the water and into the starting sequence a gusty force 3 breeze kicked in and at some point all competitors managed to get their feet under the toe straps and bums over the side.
In the Lasers it was Gareth-Staples Jones who went one better than the first race to come home in first. Mike Baldwin did likewise to score a second while Mark Lunn had to settle for third.
Once again there was close racing at the front of the Asymmetric fleet as the Allens had to use all of their collective nous to hold back the charge of Dawson/Banter to enable them to take yet another win. Woodsy was not far behind but was pipped for third overall by the RS100 (10.2) of Greg Booth (Port Dinorwic SC)
The top two places in the handicap fleet were the same as in the previous race with the Albacore of Mike Banner/Ross Southwell (LLSC) taking third.
There appears to be some dispute over the Solo second race result and these will be posted when resolved.
Olivia Cuthbert once again took the win in the junior fleet. Matt Leckie (LLSC) in his RS Feva XL came home in second and Maddie Bristow third.
Full results of this series can be found via www.llsc.org.uk/1/LLSC/Results/2014/Revett.htm
Full details on this series, all of our other winter race programmes, which includes IOCA North Optimist training days and winter championships, plus how to enter on-line at heavily discounted fees (for a limited time only) can be found online at: www.llsc.org.uk/1/2014/10/20145-winter-series-preview-not-long-till-the-guy-fawkes-pursuit-revett-series