Open Winter Series at Wilsonian Sailing Club

The Open Winter Series at Wilsonian Sailing Club concluded on Sunday 18th December with a morning race, followed by the prize giving and Christmas dinner. A temperature around zero was offset by a brisk westerly in giving exhilarating downwind legs, 46 boats, including six visitors, had entered the 13 race series, with choice of long, medium and lapping courses. A mixture of light airs, strong winds, and two races abandoned due to lack of wind had kept turnouts low, 26 were short of the 6 races to count.

Richard Smith (Musto Skiff) was already assured of victory in the long course going into the final race. Though the other prizes were still up for grabs. A second for Tony Hunt/Suzanne Hall (Laser 3000) leapfrogged them to the same on aggregate, while Andrew Peake/Stephanie Brimacomber (RS 800) despite winning had to settle for third. A fifth helped Grahame/Aaron Smith (RS 800) holds for fourth overall whereas a fourth promoted Mike Gower (Vortex A) from eight to take fifth prize.

Ian and Hannah Foxwell (National 12) had comfortably won the medium course with five bullets and a second to count, so another top spot was just icing on the cake. Brian Lamb/Sam Pygall (Wayfarer) was also guaranteed runners-up slot with a couple of firsts and four seconds, and this was endorsed with another second. Andy Pickrell (Blaze) and John Hewat (Laser 2000), with assistance from Paul Rodgers, Amada Randall, Amy Adams and Lucy Hockey, were in contention for third prize, Pickrell was absent and Hewat picked up a third to tie at 15-points apiece, this was broken in Hewat’s favour with two firsts to count. Jo Wicken and Lesley LeGassick (Alto) did enough to lift fifth prize.

Four firsts and a couple of seconds secured Brian Warwick/Mike Smith/Lesley O’Rourke (Laser 2000) the lapping course crown while Roy Winnett/Geoff Lambert scored a first and five seconds for runners-up prize, reversing last year’s results. Jayne Lambert/Paul Thorpe/Nik Antonaides (Laser 2000) held for third overall.

Overall Results:

Long Course Fleet

Medium Course Fleet

Long Course Fleet