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National Junior 12 Hour Race at Southport Sailing Club
30 June 2007By Mandy Mitchell 03 Jul 2007 09:58
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Tight racing between Winsford Flash SC & West Lancs YC in the Junior 12 hour race
Photo © Hannah Bailey
Tight racing between Winsford Flash SC & West Lancs YC in the Junior 12 hour race
Photo © Kim Pickering
Winsford Flash SC win the Junior 12 hour race
Tight racing between Winsford Flash SC and West Lancs YC throughout the day meant that the outcome of this year’s Junior 12 hour race on 30 June at Southport SC was in the balance until the very last minutes of the race.
WLYC, starting with the Enterprises in the first flight, was soon being hotly pursued by the GP14’s sailed by WFSC, Royal Windermere YC and Budworth SC. These four established themselves as the front runners in the first two hours with Alastair and Pippa Mitchell of WFSC taking the lead in the second lap from Paul Nuttall and Charles Bower of WLYC, just ahead of RWYC and Budworth who were swapping places regularly.
An unfortunate near capsize as the WLYC boat left the pits for the first time filled the boat with water and forced an immediate return to empty the boat The delay allowed WFSC now helmed by Andrew Bailey, crewed by Hugh Sowley, to extend their lead, which they worked hard to build on over the next several hours and Budworth consolidated their second position, whilst the battle for places continued throughout the entire fleet.
The wind, mainly SE Force 2/3, caused a few capsizes when bigger gusts came through and rain squalls soaked the spectators and competitors alike, but as the day progressed the wind eased to F1 (but not the rain) and began to favour the Enterprise fleet. WLYC took advantage of this to chip away at WFSC’s lead, at one point in the dying stages overtaking WFSC and significantly reducing their advantage. However, Andrew Bailey and Andrew Dawson of WFSC remained resolute and fought back to cross the line just ahead of WLYC to claim victory.
The event, sponsored by MCK Partnership Ltd and Rowland Homes, attracted 20 entries, including 3 clubs new to the event, notably Llandudno SC who finished a creditable 9th.
Overall Results:
1st Winsford Flash SC
2nd West Lancs YC
3rd Budworth SC
4th Royal Windermere YC
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12 hour Team Event at Southport Sailing Club - 04 Jul 2008Budworth Sailing Club’s junior team cleaned up on Saturday at the 12hr event hosted by Southport Sailing Club.
Southport Sailing Club’s National Junior 12 Hour Race, will be held this year on Saturday 26th June, 8am-8pm.
The Race started in the gentlest of breezes at 0800 hrs with no premature starters. There were several areas of flat calm on the lake created by the wind shadows of the islands.