Crewsaver Tipsy Icicle Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Week 2
by Paul Heath 13 Jan 2015 08:01 GMT
11 January 2015
Races 3 & 4 in the Crewsaver sponsored Tipsy Icicle series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club almost didn't happen. With the week long warning of very strong winds for Sunday, plus the reports and video evidence being viewed in the clubhouse from the previous day's Bloody Mary event, it is true to say there were a few worried faces in the clubhouse as they saw big gusts blowing out across Pennington Flash from the south west.
Peter Baldwin, the PRO, decided that it always looks worse onshore so took the committee boat afloat for a better look. After anchoring and setting a course the competitors were informed that the race was on and that they could go afloat if they really wanted to as it was 'only' blowing 18 knots with gust of 26 knots. A fleet of 36 boats decided to give it a go while an awful lot more decided it was a good day to be a spectator.
As usual the first fleet away was the 14 strong Laser fleet. Needless to say there were a few capsizes in the fleet as the gusts blasted through but in the end it was new to the series Oliver Davenport (Redesmere SC) who showed the fleet home in style to take the win. Second was Greg Marshall (WLYC), third Hayden Griffiths (LLSC – Radial) and fourth Charlotte Greenhalgh (LLSC – Radial)
Second away was the 11 boat handicap fleet which included 6 Solos (the results of which are taken separately from the handicap finish) In the main fleet the Albacore of Mike Banner/Mark Atherton (LLSC) made it look easy as they revelled in the conditions to take the bullet on corrected time from Peter Mackin (Supernova – Bolton SC) in second, Steve Blackburn (Streaker – LLSC) third and Mark Cuthbert (Supernova – LLSC) in fourth. In the Solos only two boats managed to make it to the finish. The winner was Andy Tunicliffe (RWYC) while, after returning to the fleet after a long break and still capsizing, Ian Hopwood (Nantwich & Borders SC) came home in second.
Next away were the 4 boat Asymmetric fleet which for race 3 consisted of just RS400s sailing a windward/leeward course. It was close at the front as Paul/Mike Allen (LLSC) traded blows with Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman (Delph SC) Pickles/Sharman rounded the windward mark first and found what must have been the only hole in the wind all day. This allowed the Allens through but they came back at them and both boats had a nibble at the front in an exciting race. In the end the Allens got through Pickles/Sharman on the last downwind leg and took the win with Hamish Gledhill/Simon Dowse (West Riding SC) in third and Bill Kenyon/crew (Budworth SC) in fourth.
Last away was the 7 boat junior fleet. Samuel Cooper (Topper – WLYC) carried on from where he left off last week and took the win on corrected time from Drew Gibbons (Optimist – Redesmere SC) Olivia Cuthbert (Optimist – LLSC) came home in third and Topper sailor George Graham (Burwain SC) was fourth.
After a long lunch to rest the aching limbs, and drip dry a little, the fleet launched in slightly less wind as the anemometer showed an average of 14 knots with the odd 21 knot gust. This drop in strength tempted a few new boats out even though a few from the first race had called it a day.
In the Laser fleet Davenport took another win and Marshall another second. Behind them Stuart Belfield (LLSC) came home in third and series leader Mark Lunn (LLSC) fourth.
In the handicap fleet Alex Collins (Supernova – Bolton SC), having retired in the first race, made no mistake in this one to take the win from club mate Mackin. Blackburn had to settle for another third and Banner/Atherton dropped to fourth.
It was extremely close at the front of the Solo fleet and, after the top three boats all had a go at the lead at some point, it was a photo finish as they finished within seconds of each other. When the dust had settled the eventual winner, once he had recovered from yet another capsize, was Ian Hopwood with Andy Tunicliffe second, Paul Heath (LLSC) third and Kim Cant (LLSC) fourth.
In the Asymmetrics the Allen brothers decided to call it a day while Louise McKeand/Caroline Exley (LLSC) joined the remaining RS400s in their RS200. Pickles/Sharman took an early lead and were never headed as they took the win from Gledhill/Dowse. McKeand/Exley blasted through to finish third and Kenyon was fourth.
The junior fleet had a new winner as Gibbons went one better to take the bullet. Joe Baker (Topper – LLSC) was second, a consistent Cuthbert third and Cooper fourth.
In the end it was an energy sapping but fantastic day's sailing with the big gusts, bitterly cold wind, cold water and capsizes... just what a winter series is all about! Many thanks to the safety boat crews who worked extremely hard to offer help where needed and Ann & Helen in the excellent galley for keeping everybody feed and watered.
Come and join us this coming Sunday for races 5 & 6 in the Crewsaver Tipsy Icicle series.
We look forward to seeing you.
Full results can be found on www.llsc.org.uk/1/LLSC/Results/2015/Tipsy.htm
www.llsc.org.uk