GP14 Open at Winsford Flash Sailing Club
by Bill Webber 28 Sep 2009 11:52 BST
27 September 2009
Greg Thomas and Paul Nuttall during the Winsford Flash GP14 open © Jonathan Latham
Twelve boats, five from the home club and seven visitors were welcomed on Sunday 27th September by a light northwesterly wind blowing down the lake allowing for long beats and long spinnaker legs.
In the first race, Mat Birks and Alan Jones led for more than a lap until Mat headed off for the wrong mark letting Bill Kenyon crewed by Ben Ditchburn into a lead that they held to the finish Martin Brennan and Alistair Knot finished second.
In the second race, Greg Thomas with Paul Nuttall took an early lead which the comfortably held to the finish. With much place changing behind them, Martin and Alistair pulled through for another second with Gareth Hughes and Charlotte Hill third.
Going into the last race, any one of five boats could win the meeting. Gareth and Charlotte had an early lead losing out to some good spinnaker work by Ben Ditchfield at the end of the long broad reach. Greg and Paul sailed low on the reach gaining several places to put them in a position to contend for the meeting. On the next beat, Martin and Alistair used the shifts well to take the win and the event.
Overall Results:
1st Martin Brennan and Alistair Knott (Hollingworth Lake SC)
2nd Bill Kenyon and Ben Ditchburn (Budworth SC)
3rd Greg Thomas and Paul Nuttall (Southport SC)