Solo Open Meeting at Burwain Sailing Club
by Innes Armstrong 15 Apr 2015 15:09 BST
12 April 2015
A few hardy sailors (12) attended the first of the Solo northern open meeting circuit the forecast obviously put a few travellers off attending.
As the wind was due to increase to 40 plus mph around 1pm the OOD decide to run the first 2 races back to back. The first race was a lively affair with at least 4 different leaders in wind strengths ranging from 20mph to almost nothing in certain places around the lake.
One of the leaders decided to round a mark the wrong way, others decided that capsizing was the way to go, and also sitting in the aforementioned hole in the wind whilst others planed around him.
At the finish the first 7 boats finished within boat lengths of each other with Andy Tunnicliffe taking the gun from Ian Hopwood, Stephen Dennison and Innes Armstrong.
A quick turn around by the OOD saw race 2 get quickly underway. At the second mark carnage looked like being the order of the day with Hopwood deciding a capsize was worth a go with boats planning all around and shouts of "water" being heard. Armstrong made the most of this and took the lead from then on to take the gun from Dennison, Tunnicliffe and Tennant.
Just as the helms took to their dinner the winds did arrive on time and were pretty spectacular. After a well-deserved break and the wind showing no signs of abating the OOD decided with much relief from the competitors to call it a day.
So with 2 races to count Tunniclffe took the win followed by Armstrong and Dennison. Andy thanked the OOD and galley crew for all their efforts.
Photos can be found at paulhargreavesphotography.zenfolio.com
Results:
1st Andy Tunniclffe, Burwain, 4pts
2nd Innes Armstrong, Burwain, 5pts
3rd Steve Dennison, HLSC, 5pts
4th Ian Hopwood, L&LSC, 8pts
5th Lee Tennant, Burwain, 10pts
6th Patrick Hamilton, Burwain, 12pts
7th Chris Massey, HLSC, 13pts
8th Oliver Whitehead, HLSC, 16pts
9th Stephen Graham, Burwain, 17pts
10th Peter Dewhurst, Burwain, 23pts
11th= Stan Barton, Pilkington, 25pts
11th = Nick Hornsby, HLSC, 25pts