Challenger Open at Wigan and St Helens Sailing Club

Challenger Open at WiSH SC © Marion Edwards

WiSH (Wigan and St Helens) Sailing Club held a Challenger Open during the weekend 13-14 June. Sailors arriving on Friday viewed Scotsmans Flash with some trepidation as vicious 30kt plus gusts blasted across the water. The forecast for Saturday was better but not much.

One sailor had a particularly long and difficult journey, ending up with a puncture three miles or so from the club. A description of the location was relayed over the phone and one of the club members said "I know where that is". He and another volunteer dashed off to rescue the stricken sailor. They changed the wheel and organised the repair of the puncture - definitely going above and beyond.

On Saturday morning the gusts were vicious but not quite so strong (up to F6) as Friday. After a short delay (involving a car at the club full of sailing kit and the keys back at the accommodation - it's probably best if the sailor remains nameless!) seven Challengers (six visiting and one local) were launched for two back to back races. The race officer, Neil Hornby, set a figure of eight course with a committee boat start and a finish on the club line.

Challenger Open at WiSH SC - photo © Marion Edwards

In Race 1 Val Millward (312) took the lead by the first windward mark and was never challenged over the four lap race. Chris Keats-Hannan (5) was struggling in the gusts and soon retired, which turned out to be fortuitous as the shackle on her mainsheet failed as she reached the shore. After an exceedingly poor start, Graham Hall (270) managed to recover from last over the line to fifth at the windward mark and second by the finish. Duncan Greenhalgh (280) was third.

Race 2 again saw Val take the lead by the windward mark and hold it to the finish. Behind her there was much changing of places among the chasing pack of Duncan, David Driffill (275) and Graham. By the end of the five lap race Duncan was second and Graham third.

The fleet came in for an excellent, and very reasonably priced, lunch of chilli or lasagne.

The course was changed to a figure of eight with an extra zigzag on the upwind leg (fortunately there was a lead boat!). The fleet was launched for two further back to back races.

For Race 3 it was Graham's turn to lead from start to finish with Val chasing hard in second. Chris had decided to venture out and was rewarded by rounding the windward mark in fourth. Unfortunately she was unable to maintain this for the duration of the race and faded to sixth.

Challenger Open at WiSH SC - photo © Marion Edwards

Race 4 turned into a bit of a procession as sailors coped with some "memorable" gusts. Those on shore saw vanishing sponsons and had views of centreboards which should remain hidden. Val took the win followed by Graham and Duncan.

So at the end of Saturday, Val had a two point lead over Graham and Graham a three point lead over Duncan. David was solidly mid fleet in fourth place with four fourths. In the silver fleet Steve Laycock (3) led Lynn Steward (300) but only on countback. During both the morning and afternoon sessions Challengers were recording speeds in excess of 12 kts with a maximum of 12.9kts.

The club provided a traditional Lancashire hotpot supper followed by substantial slices of chocolate fudge cake or vanilla sponge (and in some cases both!). After a day of physically demanding sailing most sailors were ready for an early night, however, two (who shall remain nameless) were unable to resist the lure of a local pub for a final drink (or two).

Challenger Open at WiSH SC - photo © Marion Edwards

By Sunday morning the wind had moderated to F3 with gusts touching F4. There were holes to catch the unwary. As the morning wore on the holes became bigger and the wind began to veer. The course was a figure of eight but with an additional, moveable, mark known as "Big Orange" to give a decent beat - more about "Big Orange" below.

Graham grabbed the lead at the start of Race 5 and never relinquished it. Behind him David managed to shake off Duncan to lie in second with Val uncharacteristically in fourth. By the third windward mark Val had overhauled Duncan but on the final beat Duncan overtook her. Unfortunately, he proceeded to go direct to mark 8 missing out "Big Orange" so gifting Val third. Chris had her best race to finish fifth but Lynn lost out to Steve at the final mark.

So going into Race 6, Graham needed a win to take the event otherwise it went to Val. Duncan almost had third sewn up but it was mathematically possible for David to snatch it off him. In silver Steve had a slender one point lead over Lynn.

Graham made a poor start and compounded his problems by hitting the windward mark. This left him fifth while Val had the lead. This was not going to end well for him! However, by the second windward mark Duncan and David had overtaken Val with Graham a distant fourth.

Challenger Open at WiSH SC - photo © Marion Edwards

Coming into the third windward mark Duncan went too far right and found a hole and Val managed to come inside David to take the lead. Graham had been gradually reeling in the leading trio and unexpectedly sailed between David and Duncan to round the mark in second. However, his charge was too little, too late and he was unable to catch Val on the final lap. David was third but this did not give him the required points margin over Duncan.

So congratulations to Val as overall winner of the WiSH Challenger Open, Graham was second and Duncan third. In the silver fleet Steve took the win followed by Lynn. Chris was third in silver, penalised for her sensible decision not to compete on Saturday morning.

At the prize-giving Val thanked the club and all its volunteers for hosting the Challengers. Thanks to the event organiser, John Riley, to the race officer, Neil Hornby, and to the safety boat crews who remained vigilant despite having surprisingly little to do. Thanks also to everyone who lent a hand during the event and especially to those running the galley.

Overall Results: