Revett Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 1
by Paul Heath 11 Nov 2015 16:09 GMT
8 November 2015
With week-long forecasts of 20 to 40 knots of wind due for the first weekend of the 2015 Revett series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club the turnout of 35 boats was lower than expected but sail we did and what fun we had. The competitors arrived on an un-seasonally mild morning to find a very manageable Force 3 blowing from the east putting everybody in a good mood.
As the sails were hoisted the wind decided to switch to the south east and go up a notch or two and although the forecasted Force 8 did not materialise we were treated to a Force 4/5 with occasional stronger gusts which made for exciting downwind sailing for all fleets.
As is usual first away was the 9 boat Laser fleet. Fastest out of the blocks and eventually first across the finish line was Stuart Belfield (LLSC) but on handicap he had to settle for second place due to the ever improving Hayden Griffiths (LLSC – Radial) staying closely on his tail. Third home was Howard Green.
Next away was the 12 boat handicap fleet, which included 5 in the junior fleet and whose results will be taken separately. Big breeze suits big boys and Andy Couch (LLSC) in his Phantom, getting some practise in for next weekends Grand Prix Ovington Inlands event at Grafham Water, got off to a flying start and despite the early close attention of the X1 sailed by Alex Morrison/Steve White (LLSC), took first place on handicap with the X1 second and the Albacore of Mike Banner & crew in third. It was a day for the Toppers as they took the top three places with Sam Cooper (LLSC) taking the bullet from Lorcan Knowles (LLSC) second and Brandon Banner (LLSC) third.
The 6 boat Asymmetric fleet were off next and after a close fought pre-start battle, and first beat, Dave Exley/Nigel Hall (LLSC – RS400) sailed off from the rest of the fleet to record the win leaving behind them a close nip and tuck battle between the RS400s of Martin Parker/Paul Heath (LLSC), Caroline Exley/Jude Allen (LLSC) and, in their 'new to them' boat, Hamish Gledhill/Simon Dowse (West Riding SC) As the race went on Gledhill/Dowse managed to pull though into second leaving Parker/Heath third and, on handicap, the RS200 of Louise McKeand/Cathy Partington (LLSC) fourth
Last fleet away was the 6 boat Solo fleet. Andy Fox (LLSC) showed the fleet a clean pair of heels as he stormed off into the distance to take the race from Brian Sprague (LLSC) second and Dave Kelsall (LLSC) third.
After lunch the fleet launched again in similar conditions.
Griffiths was a 'no show' for this one and it was Belfield who took the win. Green improved on the previous race to finish second while Oliver Blackburn (LLSC – Radial) was third.
In the Asymmetric fleet Exley/Hall did another horizon job to take the win whilethe RS200 of McKeand/Partington managed to get second no doubt helped by gear failure on the Gledhil/Dowse boat as their kite halyard snapped half way around resulting in them 'goose winging' downwind but they still just about managed to hold onto third.
The overall results/finishing positions for the handicap, junior and Solo fleets were exactly the same as race 1.
Full results of this series are on the club website, and photos from day 1 are on Dropbox.
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/1/2015/10/entries-for-the-uks-biggest-club-winter-program-are-open