GJW Tipsy Week 5 – Gallery & Results
Results & gallery now online.
The GJW Direct (GJW) sponsored Winter Season continued at Leigh &
Lowton Sailing Club on Sunday the 3rd February with the fifth weekend
of the GJW Tipsy Icicle Winter Series. Just like the weekend before it
was a chilly day and a blustery westerly force 4-5 and, as the weekend
before, 62 boats once again took to the water which included 16
newcomers racing for the first time thereby taking the total number of
boats that have taken part in the series so far to 141.
As usual our dedicated race teams for the day consisted of Peter
Baldwin and assistants on the water, Anne & Helen in the galley, Mike
Broatch & Ken Lawrenson in Safety 1 and (Streaker) George Evans on the
reception desk. With the wind blowing straight down the Flash it made
laying the course easy for the AOD who used the lenght of the lake for
the beat with plenty of off wind legs to keep everybody on their toes
while the Asymetric fleet made do with a windward/leeward course.
Racing started at 12 noon on the dot with the Asymmetric fleet away
first and this was led by the ever improving team of Curtis
Mearns/Jamie Catchpole (Leigh & Lowton SC/29ER) who were followed home
by Paul/Mike Allen (LLSC/RS400) and Dave Exley & Nigel Hall
(LLSC/RS400)
The first race in the Laser fleet was dominated by Andy Green (LLSC)
who sailed off into the distance with Jamie Purcell (Redesmere SC)
second and in third, flying the flag for the seniors, was Howard Green
(LLSC)
The Handicap fleet was dominated by Christian Day & Sophie Richards
(Leigh & Lowton SC/National 12) with Andy Flitcroft (RS300/Bolton SC)
second and Stuart Catteral (Supernova/Bolton SC) third
After lunch and a rest the second race of the day, race series 10, was
sailed in a building westerly breeze. The Asymmetric fleet was once
again won by Mearns/Catchpole however the big story was the RS400
racing between Dave Exley & Nigel Hall who were involved in a tactical
battle royale with the Allens which was only resolved at the final
mark with Exley/Hall showing great boat speed and cunning to take
second in the race (first RS400) from the Allens.
Race 2 in the Laser fleet witnessed Andy Green starting 1 minute and
40 seconds after his fleet started because he had been to busy
chatting on the foreshore. Andy then showed his class by overhauling
the whole fleet to take the bullet from Graham Macwhirter (UKLA) and
Andy Purcell.
In the handicap fleet Christian day/Sophie Richards won once again
followed home by the improving Stuart Catteral in second and Mark
Platt/Sam Platt (Bolton SC/GP14) in third.
In the Solo fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start) the
first race was won by Steve Ferrington (West Kirby SC) Graeme Bristow
(LLSC) was second and Paul Heath (LLSC) was third. In their second
race Heath, having now learnt to gybe and stay upright, was first
with Bristow second and Ferrington third.
The Junior fleet (starting as part of the Handicap fleet start bit now
qualifying for fleet status) welcomed three new Topper sailors from
Llyn Brenig SC but the fleet was given a master class by the Leigh &
Lowton SC Topper of Haydn Griffiths who won both races. Tom Wallwork
(Redesmere SC/Topper) scored a 3 & 2, while Steph Wingeatt
(LLSC/Topper) scored a 2 & 4 and Michael Platt (Bolton SC/Topper)
finished with a 5 & 3.
Once again it was another fantastic day at the club with close racing
throughout the fleets. The club would once again like to say a big
thank you to all the visitors and members for coming to the Club and
to everyone from the club who helped to run the day. See you all on
10th February 2013 for round six of ten – visit https://llsc.org.uk
for the results.
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