Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club Regatta Weekend 2015 – Day 1
by Paul Heath 16 Jul 2015 10:16 BST
11-12 July 2015
Leigh & Lowton Regatta Weekend © Gerard van den Hoek
Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club hosted their annual regatta over the weekend of the 11/12th July with three races (two to count) each day and incorporating a Miracle open meeting and the IOCA North West Championship with the overall results for these classes being based the two days racing.
Saturday morning dawned bright and breezy with a gusty Force 3 to 4 south westerly breeze as 51 boats took to the water for the four separate fleet starts. First away was the 16 strong Laser fleet which saw the return of Andy Green (LLSC) back in a Laser for the first time in almost a year and proving he still had the X factor by winning the first race from John Wingeatt (LLSC) with Oliver Davenport (Redesmere SC) third. It was these three that dominated the top three positions during the day with Green scoring a 1,1,3 Wingeatt 3, 8, 1 and Davenport consistent with 2,2,2 as Chester Candish (LLSC) spoiled the trios dominance in the second race by finishing third.
The 20 boat handicap fleet (inc. Miracles the results of which were taken separately) were next away and the first race was won by Graham Bristow (LLSC) in his Solo, Sian/Simon Talbot (LLSC) in their RS Vision second and Kim Cant (LLSC) in her Solo third. After sitting out the first race Mark Cuthbert (LLSC) started race two in his Supernova and found the conditions to his liking as he then proceeded to sa
il off into the distance to take the win from Bristow in second and the Talbots third. Race three saw the same top two as race three while the Talbots slipped to fourth as Cant scored another third. In the end Cuthbert won the day with two bullets, Bristow was second and the Talbots as well sailed third.
In the Miracles Eamon/Thomas Cuthbert (LLSC) took the win from Dave/Michelle Raines (LLSC) while the 'dream team' of Gareth Staple-Jones/Ross Southwell (LLSC) came home in third. The Cuthberts were DNC in the second race and the Raines took the win from Dave Butler/Ross Fleming (Welton SC) with Dave Herbstritt/Josie Airns (Shotwick SC) finished third. In the last race of the day Butler/Fleming seemed to have put the disappointment of an OCS in race 1 behind them as they improved on their second race result to finish first. The Raines finished second and Cuthbert third.
The Asymmetric fleet of one RS400, two RS200s and a 29R were given a windward/leeward course to sail and finding a space on the start line was no problem at all. The RS400 of Louise McKeand/Paul Heath (LLSC) led the boats home but had to settle for third overall as the RS200 of newlyweds Gareth/Jen Williams (LLSC), sporting their brand new main sail (good idea to ask for RS vouchers as a wedding present Gareth), was never far behind and took the win. Third was the RS200 of Lucy/Tim Yeates (LLSC) and fourth the 29R of Matt Leckie/Izzi Bristow (LLSC) The overall finishing order in that race was repeated for races two and three and in the final results for the day.
In the Junior fleet Maddy Bristow (LLSC), in her RS Tera Sport, showed continuing signs of improvement as she took the win in race one. Second home was Olivia Cuthbert (LLSC) and Conor Sherlock (LLSC) in his Laser Radial third. In a lesson to all to read the course and correct rounding of the marks (and remember them) all bar one boat was disqualified in the second race and the winner, and current LLSC memory champion, was Lauren Wilkinson (LLSC - Topper) Lesson learnt and normal service was resumed in the final race of the day as all sailed the correct course and this time Cuthbert took the win with Sherlock second and Bristow third. At the end of the day Cuthbert was first overall, Bristow second and Sherlock third.
Finally the Optimist open event which had 4 entries. This was dominated by Archie Leckie (LLSC) who scored two firsts and, like everybody else (did they follow the juniors?) a DSQ in race two. Harvey Leigh (LLSC) scored 2, DSQ, 2, Drew Gibbons (Redesmere SC) 3, DSQ, 4 and Lewis Coop (LLSC) 4, DSQ, 3.
Thanks once again to Gerard Vanden Hoek for the photographs. If you would like a copy please contact him directly.