53rd Eskimo Pursuit Race at Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club
by Peter Jackson 18 Jan 2015 19:44 GMT
26 December 2014
Steve Crook and Oli Whitehead on their way to winning the 53rd Eskimo Pursuit race © Alex Torkington
Over 35 competitors attended the 53rd Eskimo Pursuit Race at Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club on Boxing Day with a cold and wet Southeast wind. Competitors travelled from as far a field as Lake Garda, Parkstone Y.C. and many North West sailing clubs and sponsored once again by Rooster Sailing.
As the competitors started to rig the rain kindly stopped with a gentle force 3. First away were Wayne Atherton & Simon Roodecliffe in their Miracle who retained the lead for the first lap closely followed by Andy Tunnicliffe, Richard Whitworth & Chris Robinson in their Solos.
On the second lap the single handers had taken the lead. Andy Tunnicliffe was closely followed by Richard Whitworth with the Solos finally being caught by Ian Jones' Streaker, followed by Steve Crook's Merlin and Andy Mckee's Scorpion.
In the last couple of minutes of the race several more places changed with Steve Crook and Oli Whitehead from Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club finally winning the race, 2nd Andy Mckee & Chris Massey (Dovestone) 3rd Neil Marsden & Graham Nelson (BFYC). 1st single hander was Mark Fearnley (South Windermere) and 1st Lady helm was Hannah Marsden crewed by Dawn Wilkinson. 1st Junior was Ralph Chaplin.