Ullswater Yacht Club Single Hander Weekend
by Sue Giles 29 May 16:27 BST
26-27 May 2018
Action from the Ullswater Single Hander Weekend © Rebecca Bairstow
Twenty-five solo sailors, racing Lasers and Aeros, took part in Ullswater Yacht Single Hander Weekend on May 26 and 27.
The event was part of the Laser Lakeland and Border Grand Prix Series and the RS Aero Northern Circuit and 13 Lasers and 12 Aeros competed in seven races over the weekend in challenging conditions with blue skies and warm sun but blustery and unpredictable Easterly winds.
Race officer David Clarke set the course at the Northern end of the lake but could not avoid the vicious shifting gusts and racing was very close in both fleets. At the end of Saturday, after four exciting races, just two points separated the first four boats in the Lasers with first places being taken by four different helms. Just in front was UYC's Jon Abbatt in a Radial, closely followed by Greg Liggens of Derwent Reservoir SC, Patrick Hamilton of Burwain SC and Anthony Dawson of UYC, all racing full rigs.
It was also close in the Aero fleet with the overnight leader Steve Stewart from Yorkshire Dales SC in an Aero 5, taking two first and two seconds. The other two races were won by Matt Thursfield, RYA, in an Aero 7.
Sunday brought the same blue sky weather but with the same difficult Easterly winds. The course was set in the same part of the lake and three more races were scheduled. In the Lasers Jon Abbatt dominated, winning two more races and coming second in the other to take the event overall. Greg Liggens won the final race to grab second place, just pipping Patrick Hamilton who had the same points, on countback.
In the Aeros, Sunday was Matt Thursfield's day, he won all three races to take the overall event with a clean sweep of five firsts to count from seven races. Steve Stewart was second in all three races to come second overall and third place went to Ian McGonigal of East Lothian SC in an Aero 7.
For the Aeros, it had become an 'international' event welcoming a competitor from France – Arnaud Bouchez from the Club Nautique de Wimereux near Boulogne. Arnaud, and another long distance visitor, Noah Rees from Torpoint Mosquito SC in Cornwall, who was fourth, were presented with traveller trophies at the prizegiving.
Entries are filling up fast for UYC's next major weekend, the iconic Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy long distance event on July 7 and 8. Entries via SailRacer.
Overall Results:
Lasers
1. Jon Abbatt, Radial, UYC, 7pts
2. Greg Liggens, Derwent Reservoir SC, 12pts
3. Patrick Hamilton, Burwain SC, 12pts
Aeros
1. Matt Thursfield, Aero 7, RYA, 5pts
2. Steve Stewart, Aero 5, Yorkshire Dales SC, 8pts
3. Ian McGonigal, Aero 7, East Lothian SC, 17.5pts