Revett Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 4
by Paul Heath 2 Dec 2014 07:04 GMT
30 November 2014
Week 4, and races 7 and 8, of the Lowton Sailing Club Revett winter series and there was actually a forecast which promised a bit of wind for the midday start which probably accounted for a fantastic turnout of 74 boats.
It was a familiar sight for many when they arrived as there was no wind at all however 30 minutes before the due start the wind began to fill in from the North West and the fleet headed to the start area at bottom of the Flash in a solid Force 3 breeze.
As is usual first away was the 20 boat Laser fleet. Maybe it was the sunshine reflecting off the course board that was displayed on the back of the committee boat or that the rare appearance of breeze got the helms a bit giddy but there is no real excuse not to do the basics and jot down the correct course. So it was that only one of the fleet, and one who was towards the rear that the others could not see him, that sailed the correct course. When the fleet came ashore and it dawned on them all there were a few puzzled faces and only one, belonging to Mike Barnes (LLSC), who had a smile like a Cheshire cat.
The 21 boat Asymmetric fleet were next away and sailed a windward/leeward course. Caroline Exley/Jude Allen (LLSC – RS400) took the race by the scruff of the neck and built up what appeared to be an unassailable lead. There was a battle some way behind them between the leader Paul/Mike Allen (LLSC – RS400) Richard Catchpole/Martin Parker (LLSC – RS400) and Hamish Gledhill/Simon Dowse (RS400 - West Riding SC) As the race progressed the wind began to drop and there were many a major shift and hole to fall into that allowed the fleet to close up on the leaders and at the death the Allens made a major gain to just get by Exley/Allen and rob them of the win. Gledhill/Dowse come home in third.
Next away was the 19 boat handicap fleet (this included 8 junior boats the results of which will be abstracted at the end of the series and separate prizes awarded) In the adult handicap fleet 10 of these boats suffered the same fate as the 19 boats in the Laser fleet. The person with the pen to write down the correct course was Gary Guild (LLSC – Devoti D-Zero) and he promptly took the win. The juniors must have had either a pen or good memories as they all sailed the correct course and the winner was series leader Olivia Cuthbert (LLSC – Optimist) with Joe Baker (Topper) in second and Lorcan Knowles (LLSC – Topper) third.
Given their own start, and last away, were the 14 boat Solo fleet who all managed to sail the correct course.
After a weekend off the fleet saw the return of the 'Burwain Two', Innes Armstrong and Patrick Hamilton, who are the two lead boats in the series. The race went true to form with the Burwain boys taking the top two places in that order while Brian Sprague (LLSC) finishing third.
After a long lunch, to allow the wind to reappear, the fleet took to the water for race 8 in the series in a Force 2 which eventually faded to nothing as the racing drew to a close.
In the Lasers it was Oliver Davenport (Redesmere SC) who took the win from series leader Mark Lunn (LLSC) in second and Mike Baldwin third.
It was 'boat of the day' Gledhill/Dowse who took the win in the Asymmetric fleet with Tony/Lisa Woods (RESC – RS400) in second and Gary Knott/Helen Blackburn (LLSC – RS400) third.
Managing to sail the correct course this time it was the Albacore of Mike/Kay Banner (LLSC) who took the win in the handicap fleet from the Streaker of Steve Blackburn (LLSC) with Gareth Williams (LLSC – RS aero) third.
In the Solo fleet it was the same top three as the previous race while in the junior fleet Lorcan Knowles took the win. Joe Baker had to settle for another second place and Brandon Banner (LLSC – Topper) came home in 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