Laser Northern Grand Prix Series at Winsford Flash Sailing Club

Laser Northern Grand Prix at Winsford Flash © Nigel Hughes

Laser Northern Grand Prix at Winsford Flash © Nigel Hughes

This was the tenth event in a series of 17 Laser Grand Prix meetings around Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

After two days of good breezes and superb sailing conditions on the Flash, Sunday 22nd June dawned with clear skies but calm conditions.

In some areas of the lake, there were ripples indicating small puffs of wind, but in others the surface was almost a mirror-finish.

However, the sight of clouds moving overhead gave some hope for a little wind, and by the time of the 11 o'clock start, Jon Close, the Race Officer, was able to set a course in the middle of the lake which was sailable. 11 boats set out from shore for Race 1. Patrick Hesten (Dovestone),and Isaac Marsh (Scammonden) got away from the start line, closely followed by another Dovestone sailor, 12 year-old George Pulman, and Sam and Ian Clarke (Winsford). This group sailed their own race, leaving a large gap which the rest of the fleet never managed to close. Halfway through the race, the wind dropped and the fleet was drifting. The leaders managed to keep going, but at the back there was some place-changing and one boat was noticed to lose three places, only to make them back up again on the next leg by virtue of sailing closer to shore and picking up a puff which propelled it to the finish.

After lunch, Race 2 got underway, this time with 13 boats coming to the start line. On the first lap, after very light conditions for the start, the wind filled in and continued almost until the end of the race, although with some interesting shifts causing "rafting" around the last mark and a slow drift to the finishing line. Patrick and Isaac added another one-two to their first race results, but third this time was taken by Sam, with George dropping to 5th behind Sam's dad Ian.

To save time going in and coming back out again, Race 3 was run "back to back" and this time Isaac and Sam got away, joined by a new face, Sandy Mill (Winsford). There was a large gap separating this group from the rest of the fleet, but on a particularly windless Lap 2, four boats managed to catch and overtake Sandy and he was demoted back to his more customary seventh position! The remainder of the race became something of a procession, with each boat separated by between three and five boat-lengths from the next, and first across the line was Isaac, Sam second and Patrick third.

With the best two races counting for the overall result, Patrick was the winner with two firsts, Isaac second with a 1,2 and Sam third (and first Winsford boat) with 3,2. George Pulman (3,5) came fourth, and his sister Harriot (10th overall) was First Lady and First Radial.

Prizes were presented by Vice Commodore (Sail) Ian Foulkes, assisted by Laser Captain, Sandy Mill.

With thanks to all who supported the event, especially our visitors, who travelled from Scammonden, Rossendale Valley and Dovestone Sailing Clubs. Race Officers Jon Close and Alastair Mitchell, safety teams provided by the GP14 fleet and our Galley crew also deserve a special mention. And on a final note, it is of some comfort to know that several other local clubs were experiencing the same frustrating conditions!

If you would like more information about Winsford Flash Sailing Club or its range of courses please contact the Club Secretary Helen Walsh via email, or telephone the club 01606 592726. The club's website can be found at www.winsfordflashsailing.com