Tipsy Week 2 – Entries approach 100!
Week two Tipsy results. Click here to see Colin Hagues’s web cam animation. Photographs courtesy of Mike Dean.
On the 15th January 2012 the UK’s biggest winter series, Leigh & Lowton’s Tipsy Icicle continued with its run of 11 weeks. Fleets consist of Asymmetric, Handicap, Solos and Lasers. So far after 2 weeks of the series we have already had 90 boats on the water. Spectators continued to watch the racing from the newly built lounge. The galley was open all day and the bar was serving cold beer from 3pm.
Races 3 & 4 in the Asymmetric fleet saw the reformed RS400 team of Paul and Mike Allen continue with their winning ways of last week taking 2 bullets on the day. Hamish Gledhill and Simon Dowse (West Riding) took the second spot with Tony Taylor & Sarah Tyson (Budworth), Dave Exley & Nigel Hall and Caroline Exley & Jude Allen all very close behind in both races.
The Laser fleet was dominated in both races 3 & 4 by Ian Jones (Dovestones). Dave Shiel took 2 seconds after hanging onto Jones for a couple of laps in each race and Paul Heath (even following a capsize in race 1), Andy Stott and Graham Macwhirter were all very close behind.
The Solo fleet was again dominated in races 3 & 4 by Chris Gillard (Sheffield Viking) and Steve White. Ian Hopwood was again the blushing bridesmaid just off the front and scored two 3rds.
In races 3 & 4 the handicap fleet was dominated by Christian Day & Sophie Richards in the National 12. The previous weeks’ winner, Richard Catchpole RS300, was indeed on the water but in an official capacity with the PRO and his team. John & Rosanna Walter (Flying Fifteen), Richie Allen (Phantom) and Mark Cuthbert (Phantom) were all in the bunch vying for honours. This was week 2 for Leigh’s dedicated winter series PRO who is demonstrating consistency in his approach which is being greatly appreciated by all the fleets. The PRO had an awkward wind direction but made excellent use of the space available to set courses which were suitable for all fleets and race lengths that were perfect.
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