Mirror Winter Series at Royal Windermere Yacht Club

The third and final day of the Royal Windermere Mirror Class Winter Series took place on a wonderfully sunny spring day on Saturday, 18th of April. The wind settled down to a gentle easterly breeze allowing a triangular course to be set in the north lake with the windward mark not far from Miller ground.

The first race started promptly at 10.30 with Ed and Beth Grey just about getting away with a ‘port end flyer’ thanks largely to the generosity of others. As ever at Windermere picking the right side of the beat was key to success and it was notable that the starboard side of the course was best. Peter Sedgewick and Ewan Byers were first to the windward mark followed closely by Ed and Beth and then Nicky Haigh and Will Nickson. On the second beat Ed and Beth managed to overhaul Peter and Ewan and in the end won the race by a clear margin, the Lulham Robinson boys coming in third. Newcomers Jack Lawson and Greg Little achieved a seventh place finish.

The second race was very competitive with the lead changing hands several times and the chase went right to the end of the downwind finish with Nicky and Will holding off Ed and Beth, again the Lulham Robinson lads were third. Young Elizabeth and James Pike put in an excellent performance with a sixth place finish.

After lunch it was noticeable that the breeze had dropped slightly and there were distinct pockets of wind on the lake. The start of Race three nearly had to be abandoned as a rowing boat manoeuvred down the line just after the start sequence had commenced, but fortunately following some vocal persuasion by the race team and safety boats it had moved out of the way by the time the boats approached the start. Race three was won by Ed and Beth Grey from Ben and Matthew Lulham Robinson, with Ollie White and William Hide achieving a creditable third place finish.

The breeze was now becoming very shifty and had also moved more southerly and so Race Officer John Atkinson needed to halt proceedings briefly whilst the course was adjusted. For race four, a few of the teams took the opportunity to swap round the crew and helm and so after a loose start the race was won by Catherine and Ellie Hide, who had improved all day, from Ben and Matt Lulham Robinson.

The overall three race series was won by Matthew and Ben Lulham Robinson, with Nicky Haigh and Will Nickson second and Catherine and Ellie Hide third on count-back. The RWYC Winter Series Mirror trophy was presented by Alan Lishman on behalf of the club. Elizabeth Shapland on behalf of Karen and Jim Schwerdt, owners of Maiden Marine, the event sponsors, presented prizes to all of the series competitors.

Overall Results: