Revett Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 3
by Paul Heath 26 Nov 2015 13:05 GMT
16 November 2015
After two weeks of full on sailing in strong breeze competitors arrived to find the Flash a millpond. The forecast was for a light breeze to fill in by the midday start time but it didn't arrive so a postponement was sounded and everybody tucked into an early lunch while playing the waiting game. It was a decision well made as a short time later the breeze began to fill in and eventually settle from the north. After establishing that it was settled and here to stay the fleets were sent out for a 1pm start and two back to back races.
By the start the wind had upped to a F2 breeze with occasional stronger gusts and as is usual first away was the 14 boat Laser fleet. After almost a year out of his Laser Mark Lunn (LLSC) returned and after a poor start managed to work his way through the fleet to take the win followed by Haydn Griifiths in second. An old face in Tom Keegan (Portsmouth Uni. SC) made a return to Laser sailing and came home in third with Stuart Belfield fourth.
The 9 boat Asymmetric fleet were next away and sailed a windward/leeward course. Richard Catchpole/Gary Coop (RS400 - LLSC) took the race by the scruff of the neck and built up an unassailable lead to take the win. Hamish Gledhill/Simon Dowse (WRSC) were second but behind them the RS100 10.2 of Greg Booth (Port Dinorwic SC) was calmly carving through the fleet to take third on handicap with the RS400 of Stuart Halman/Anna Walsh (LLSC) fourth
Next away was the 12 boat handicap fleet (this included 4 junior boats the results of which will be abstracted at the end of the series and separate prizes awarded) The X1 of Alex Morrison/Steve White (LLSC) powered off into the lead and took the win. Behind them there was a battle between the Phantom of Steve Dawson (LLSC) and Supernova of Mark Cuthbert (LLSC) In the end Cuthbert took second, Dawson third and the 505 of Bob Campbell/Keith Summersgill fourth. In the junior fleet Brandon Banner (Topper – LLSC) took the win from Lewis Coop (LLSC) in his Optimist, Olivia Cuthbert (Laser 4.7 – LLSC) was third while Natasha Helsby (Topper – LLSC) had enough and retired.
Good racing in the 9 boat Solo fleet as series leader Brian Sprague (LLSC) stormed the first beat and sailed off into a large lead but unfortunately (for him) sailed into a hole which allowed Andy Fox (LLSC) and Paul Heath (LLSC) to catch him up. These three boats then began swapping places until Heath eventually managed to edge ahead to take the win from Sprague. Foxy came home in third and Chris Helsby (LLSC) fourth.
The second race of the day was sailed in less wind and eventually faded to nothing as the racing drew to a close but not before the race officer had anticipated it and signalled a shortened course.
In the Lasers Griffiths went one better to take the win and puts him on top of the leader board. Keegan and Belfield also improved a place each while Oliver Blackburn (LLSC) was fourth.
The top three places in the Asymmetric fleet were as race 1 with the RS200 of Louise McKeand/Cathy Partington (LLSC) sneaking into fourth.
Morrison/White had to settle for second in this race as Steve Dawson in his Phantom stuck like glue to the transom of the X1 to take the win. Cuthbert dropped to third while Mark Dingsdale (Phantom – LLS) was fourth. Only one junior helm stuck out the second race and that was Olivia Cuthbert in her Laser 4.7.
In the Solo fleet it was repeat of the first race as Sprague shot off but was caught by Foxy and Heath. Heath took the win from Sprague while Foxy called it a day after coming to a standstill and then finding reverse gear. Third was Brian Holt (LLSC) and fourth Nik James (LLSC).
Full details on this series, all of our other winter race programmes, which includes IOCA North Optimist training days and winter championships can be found at www.llsc.org.uk/1/2015/10/entries-for-the-uks-biggest-club-winter-program-are-open
Full results of this series at www.llsc.org.uk/1/LLSC/Results/2015/Revett.htm