GJW Tipsy Icicle Winter Series at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club - Day 4
by David Shiel 28 Jan 2013 09:19 GMT
27 January 2013
A bright and blustery day
The GJW Direct (GJW) sponsored Winter Season continued at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club on Sunday the 27th of January 2013 with the fourth weekend of the GJW Tipsy Icicle Winter Series. A chilly day with a blustery west south westerly force 3-5 greeted the 62 boats which arrived to take part in the fourth weekend of the series. Now in total 125 boats have taken to the water for the Series.
The race teams for the day consisted of Peter Baldwin on the water, Anne & Helen in the galley, Mike Broatch & Ken Lawrenson in Safety 1 and (Streaker) George Evans on the reception desk.
The wind direction made things pretty tricky for the PRO with the breeze coming across the Flash from the left hand side looking out from the Clubhouse. Series race 7 started at 12 noon on the dot with the Asymmetric fleet. The fleet was led by Paul & Mike Allen (Leigh & Lowton SC/RS400), Dave Exley & Nigel Hall (Leigh & Lowton /RS400) and Graeme & Izzi Bristow (Leigh & Lowton SC/RS Feva XL). The first race in the Laser fleet was dominated by Jack Hopkins (Delph SC), Glyn Purnell (Leigh & Lowton SC) and Oliver Davenport (Redesmere SC) who all showed great boat speed and consistency. The Handicap fleet was dominated by Mark & Sam Platt (Bolton SC/GP14), Christian Day & Sophie Richards (Leigh & Lowton SC/National 12) and Alan Johnson & Paula Fisher (Southport SC/South Caernarvonshire YC).
After a hot & hearty lunch the second race of the day, race series 8, was sailed in a building south westerly breeze. The Asymmetric fleet was led this time by Dave Exley & Nigel Hall with Louise Mckeand & Cathy Partington (Leigh & Lowton /RS200) and Graeme & Izzi Bristow all snapping away at the heels of the leaders. Race 2 in the Laser fleet witnessed Andy Stott (Leigh & Lowton SC) doing a horizon job. The Handicap fleet witness Mark Lunn & Steve Blackburn (Pilkington SC/Enterprise) coming to the fore with Andy Flitcroft (Bolton SC/RS300) and Mark & Sam Platt bring up the rear.
The Solo fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start) was given a master class by Mike Sims (Carsington SC) with the youngsters of the fleet Paul Heath (Leigh & Lowton SC) and Andy Fox (Crosby SC) both in close attendance but both in awe of the master's pace both up and down wind.
The Junior fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start bit now qualifying for fleet status) was given a master class by the Leigh & Lowton SC Toppers of Olive Blackburn, Haydn Griffiths and Nick Devereux.
All in all it was another fantastic day at the Club with close racing throughout the fleets. The Club would once again like to say a big thank you to all the visitors and members for coming to the Club and to everyone from the Club who helped to run the day. See you all on 3rd February 2013 for round five of ten – visit www.llsc.org.uk for the results.
GJW Direct offers one of the most comprehensive boat insurance policies on the market, at a very competitive price. For a quote in under 30 seconds, visit, www.gjwdirect.co.uk/dinghy