RYA NW Junior Travellers at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
by Nigel Wrigley 16 May 2007 07:45 BST
12 May 2007
On Saturday 12th May, Leigh & Lowton hosted the fourth event in 2007 RYA junior travellers series, sponsored by local chandlery 1st Mark. The event attracted 31 boats with young sailors traveling from Bassenthwaite SC, Bolton SC, Budworth SC, Chester SC, Redesmere SC, Ribble Cruising Club, Nantwich and Borders SC & Winsford Flash. Racing was held for Handicap and Optimist Fleets. The handicap fleet comprised of an excellent turnout of 19 Toppers, 4 Laser Radials and a Streaker.
The first race started with a force 2-3 gusting 4. Both fleets had clean starts and the gusts caught some Toppers swimming and leading to a wild gybe by Bobby Hewitt who managed to hold it together and come out smiling rather than swimming.
In the handicap fleet the Toppers came out on top with Elliot Hansen taking first followed by Sam Watson second and Katlyn Green third. The Optimist fleet first race was won by Lucy Yeates, Martin Wrigley second and Jamie Catchpole third.
The second race after lunch was a sunny force 2. The beautiful weather led to some sailors being rather forgetful. The committee boat supplied a spare watch to a leading Topper and a spare buoyancy aid to a red faced young sailor!
In the handicap race Elliot Hanson still dominated in his Topper followed by Joe Hanson in his Laser Radial and third going to Pete Mitchell again in a Laser radial. The Optimist fleet was again led by Lucy Yeates; second position was held by Jamie Catchpole all round the course until the last beat which saw two boats approaching the line together. Martin Wrigley just managed to get his boat six inches ahead on the line to take second, leaving Jamie Catchpole third.
The third race was again a force two but cloudy and threatening rain. The result was the same as the first race with Elliot Hansen taking first, Sam Watson second and Katlyn Green third. There were some spirited performances with Chris Wheeler, Andrew Price and Rachel Wilcox chasing the leading Toppers.
The Optimists showed some close racing with the first five boats staying together until the second lap. Upwind Jamie had caught Martin on starboard leaving him to do turns. Lucy was caught on the downwind her 720’s dropping her back to third. Jamie was now in pole position and sailing strongly. Martin could see his second place slipping away but couldn’t catch Jamie who romped home to win the third race, Martin Wrigley second and Lucy Yeates third.
Overall Results:
Handicap
1st Topper 46023, Elliot Hanson (Redesmere SC)
2nd Topper 43001, Sam Watson (Nantwich & Borders SC)
3rd Topper 45829, Kaitlyn Green (Leigh & Lowton SC)
4th Laser Radial 182474, Pete Mitchell (Nantwich & Borders SC)
5th Laser Radial 171775, Joe Hanson (Redesmere SC)
Optimist
1st 4630, Lucy Yeates (Leigh & Lowton SC)
2nd 5271, Jamie Catchpole (Leigh & Lowton SC)
3rd 4496, Martin Wrigley (Leigh & Lowton SC)
Next it’s off to the Lake District at Ullswater on 9th June 2007.