North West Junior Travellers at Winsford Flash Sailing Club

RYA NW Junior Traveller Series at Winsford Flash © Jonathan Latham

RYA NW Junior Traveller Series at Winsford Flash © Jonathan Latham

Winsford Flash SC welcomed 32 competitors to the Northwest Junior Travellers Trophy on Saturday 18 July 2015. It was great to see so many on the water, 26 in the handicap fleet and 6 sailing in Optimists, for this stage of the competition. It was also good to see a number of WFSC juniors taking part in their first ever event.

At the briefing held at the front of the clubhouse the OOD made sure that everyone was aware that there would be one start for the combined handicap fleets, followed by the Optimist start, a change to the usual NWJTT format.

The force 2-3 WNW wind created some challenges for the sailors, with force 4-5 gusts coming over the clubhouse bank that caused a number of capsizes before the start of the first race.

Both fleets got away cleanly towards the first mark under the clubhouse bank where the tricky conditions caught some out but all completed the race despite more capsizes, with competitive racing throughout, and enjoyed a reach along the length of the Flash.

After a BBQ lunch the second race got underway in similar conditions to the earlier race but with a change of course for the second beat to reflect a slight wind shift. Again there was competitive racing throughout the fleets and this time Lewis Coop, Leigh & Lowton SC led the Optimists home in front of fellow club sailor Harvey Leigh, the winner of the first race.

The OOD kept the course the same for race 3 but a significant change in wind direction to a Southerly midway through the race turned the reach into a beat. Subsequent frequent wind shifts proved testing for many, causing one Topper sailor to have a McEnroe moment exclaiming, "This cannot be real!".

Lewis Coop, with his lucky light wind hat, again triumphed and so became the overall winner in the Optimist fleet, with Harvey Leigh in second place, and Jonny Latham, Leigh & Lowton SC, third.

The Junior fleet competition was won by Lorcan Knowles of Leigh & Lowton SC, Lucy Knights, Bolton SC, was second with George Williams, Chester SC third. Oliver Davenport, Redesmere SC, was the winner of the hotly contested Youth fleet, with Adam Russ, also from Redesmere SC in second place, Stephanie Wingeatt, Leigh & Lowton SC, third.

The strong showing by the Leigh & Lowton sailors won them the team prize, and a special Endeavour prize was awarded to Alexander Lowery of Elton SC for his determination despite numerous capsizes.

Well done to home sailors, Angus Paddison, Sam Wakefield, Zach Smith, Dan Goodwin and Lucas Sproul who all sailed well and were a great credit to the club.

Optimist Results:

Junior Fleet Results:

Youth Fleet Results: