Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club Tipsy Icicle - Week 5
by Paul Heath 6 Feb 06:13 GMT
2 February 2020
Although a westerly Force 4 had been predicted all week, upon arrival at the club competitors were surprised to find there was no wind. This led to a 1 hour postponement and an early lunch during which time a light south westerly breeze began to fill in which was enough to send the 62 boat fleet out to race two back-to-back races.
Caroline Exley and her race team were all prepared and set to go when the forecast Force 4, and more in the gusts, arrived 3 minutes before the seven boat Asymetric fleet set off with a windward/leeward course all to themselves. The 29er of Maddie Bristow/Sian Talbot (LLSC) stormed off and led all the way around but could only manage second overall as they were pipped on handicap by Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman (Delph SC) in their RS400. Dave Exley/Ali Cormack (LLSC - RS400) were third and Paul/Karen Brotherton (Glossop) won the battle of the RS200s to finish fourth. In race 2 the 29er made no mistakes to take the race win with Exley/Cormack second, Pickles/Sharman third and another fourth for Team Brotherton.
George Graham (Burwain SC) managed to damage his boat during the race but still took the race win in the 20 strong Laser fleet but he was chased hard by club mate Patrick Hamilton (Burwain SC) Drew Gibbons (West Kirby SC) sailed his Radial rig to third with Howard Green (LLSC) fourth. Graham managed to get ashore, borrow another hull, and get back to the start line with a minute to go and then pull himself through the fleet to take another win. Gibbons went one better to finish second, Hamilton third and Ian Webber-Rostron (Delph SC) fourth.
Twelve boats in the handicap fleet and Phil Worth (Delph SC) in his Phantom clearly likes the breeze conditions as he took first place in both races. Likewise Andy Flitcroft (Bolton SC) in his Supernova who took second in both. Despite a capsize Gareth Williams (LLSC) sailed his RS Aero 7 to third with Louise McKeand/Nigel Halls (LLSC) Wayfarer finishing third in the second race.
Eight Solos and 15 junior boats were last away and in the Solos it was Phil Barnes (Budworth SC) who took first place in both races, New to the series Martin Brennan (Hollingworth SC) scored two second places and series leader Nik James (LLSC) had to settle for two third places. In the junior fleet an RS Tera took the win from series leader Jac Bailey (Port Dinorwic SC) in his RS Tera Sport and Rebecca Knock (Port Dinorwic SC) in her Tera Pro was third. Race 2 saw the Topper of Chloe Mills (Pennine SC) take the win from the RS Tera and Max Rawlinson/James Armstrong (LLSC) in their RS Feva XL were third.
Full results can be found at www.llsc.org.uk/LLSC/Results/2020/Tipsy.htm