Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club Visitor Open

The 11:30 weather forecast on Thursday evening gave a severe weather warning for the entire Irish Sea for the coming weekend. South westerly gales gusting up to force 10 on the Beaufort Scale and torrential rain. This could have resulted in damage to property and mountainous seas storming into Morecambe Bay.

Clearly not the weekend to be running Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club's most prestigious event the Visitor Open. How ever these competitions are organised many months in advance and we are always at the mercy of the weather. Competitors race over two days for the Visitor Cup a silver trophy originally presented to the club by the towns local newspaper The Morecambe Visitor.

The format is four races held over two days and if weather conditions permit one of the races is long distance taking in Humphrey Head and the Westmorland Riviera. Equal points are awarded for each race but only three results are counted. Thereby allowing competitors a discard which can be useful in the event of a disastrous race.

On the Friday night preceding the race committee anguished about the possible cancellation of the event. If the forecast proved accurate there would be no choice but it was not a decision any one wished to contemplate. However Saturday Morning dawned sunny with a blustery breeze blowing from a south easterly direction. This meant that inshore the waters of the bay were smooth so racing could go ahead however conditions would be difficult with sometimes heavy gusts blowing of the land.

The turn out was disappointingly small with only a handful of visitors arriving. Many who normally attend perhaps put off by the forecast or preferring to take part in inland events which are rarely curtailed by adverse weather. However visitors did turn up one, Pete Harrison brought his Laser 4000 all the way from Stokes Bay which is near Southampton.

The event started with ten boats on the water four visitors and six local boats. There were four rapid retirements due to gear failure in the first race both of the local Shearwater Catamarans being casualties. The race was dominated by Pete Harrison and Mark Fernlea in the mighty Laser 4000 and the RS 400 respectively both creaming around the course which had been superbly set by Commodore Keith Byers. Line honours went to the Laser 4000 and when the handicapping was complete retained first place with the RS400 second.

Race two only had five starters and conditions had moderated slightly the big gusts weren't as big and the boats were easier to control. Harrison went on to win again but this time Carol Haines got second, local boy Ashley Howell third and Fernlea could only manage a forth place. At the end of the First days racing Harrison was in a commanding position.

That evening Yacht Club entertained the local lifeboat crew and supporters with a quiz night and managed to swell that institutions coffers by £132.

On Sunday the weather hadn't changed it was still south easterly and blustery however gear had been repaired and there ten boats on the start line again. This time Fernlea dominated and although he wasn't first on the water he got the points after handicapping.

Race four was an exciting affair led for the most by Barry Maguire's Shearwater Catamaran this forty six year old design known as the thinking mans catamaran found conditions entirely to its liking and romped around followed by Hughie Reed in his Shearwater. However Harrison got first place on Handicap which gave an unassailable three first places and he richly deserved to win the Visitor Trophy.

That's racing finished on the bay for this year but the clubs still open on Friday evenings for a cosy chat and to plan next years events.

More Information:

• Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club