Annual Hangover Handicap at Crosby Sailing Club

Crosby SC held its annual Hangover Handicap event on Sunday 3rd January 2016. The forecast was for gales of F6 gusting 7 around midday and then dropping to F3. It could have been the forecast or the general weather but the only visitor to turn up was last year's winner Steve Blackburn to return the trophy. The wind was blowing southerly down the lake through the docks, the gusts were quite vicious at times, prompting the RO and club Commodore Mark Blanchard to hold a briefing for the sailors who where going out.

Race 1 started and several of the youngsters had already been literally blown over prior to the start. Within a minute, a Laser mast had lost its top section in a gust. Tim Mercer in his Laser pulled out and unassailable lead ahead of the fleet and was met with disappointment as a patrol boat let him know that the race had been abandoned due to the bigger gusts taking too many boats over and being unsafe.

Lunch was taken, and uneaten mince pies and sweets helped to take the pain away. By half past one the wind had decreased, although several made the decision to give it a miss. Frantic moves made to replace broken masts, were successfully made. So for the first time the Hangover Handicap became a one race series.

The race was started and James Middleton sailing his brother's Laser Radial hit the front for the first two marks, chased by his father Ian and Tim Mercer in full rigs. A full length run of the lake saw Mercer hit the front into the long beat up the lake. Over the next few laps Mercer and Middleton Snr. swapped places, with Neil Wright pushing James hard for third and fourth. A gust saw Mercer fly into the final reach to the finish, with all following in.

Special mentions for the very hard working safety crews, soaking wet race officers and the new racers who used the club Toppers in anger.

Overall Results: