Revett Week 1 – a sunny north westerly kicks off the series. Results & gallery now online.
The 2013 Leigh & Lowton sailing club winter revett series kicked off on Sunday 10th November.
The forecast was for very light winds which, along with junior race training elsewhere and a few helms that did attend deciding to sit out the races, accounts for the lower than expected turnout. On arrival the sky was blue and the Flash was a millpond but shortly before racing was due to start with a light north west breeze filled in which allowed the 50 boats to enjoy courses stretching the full length of the Flash.
First away were the 9 boat Asymetric fleet who sailed a windward/leeward course and this saw early close racing at the front between the RS400’s of Stuart Belfield/James Belfield (LLSC) and Bill Kenyon/Andy Dawson (LLSC) As the race went the wind began to pick up and crews were seen to be hiking as Dave Exley and son Jack Exley (RS400 – LLSC) put on a spurt, caught up with the others and pulled through to lead from Kenyon/Dawson on the last long downwind leg. On the long beat to the finish the wind increased further and Kenyon/Dawson got the right side of a shift and edged out the Exleys. Further down the fleet but sailing fast was the RS200 of Louise McKeand/Cathy Partington (LLSC) who, when the dust settled, won the race from Kenyon/Dawson second and the Exleys third.
Next to start was the 11 boat Laser fleet who were able to observe the windshifts the RS400’s found up the beat and use them to their advantage as they caught the tail end of the fleet before the windward mark. Howard Green (LLSC) managed to gain the lead and took the win from Martin Breach while Sally Haslewood (LLSC) played the shifts well and had good boat speed to gain a third.
Last away was 30 boat handicap fleet which, for race 1, included 9 Solos (the results of which will be taken seperately from the handicap finish) and 11 junior competitors (the results of which will be seperated from the main fleet) In the Solo fleet Malcolm Waddington (LLSC) took an early lead but was hotly pursued and eventually passed by Brain Sprague (LSC) and Graeme Bristow (LLSC) Waddington never gave up the chase and managed to get his nose back in front to take the win from Bristow and a rapidly approaching Ken Cottam (LLSC)
There was close racing at the front of the junior fleet which was made up of mainly Toppers but at the finish it was the every improving George Graham (Topper – LLSC) who took the win from the more experienced Topper sailors Oliver Blackburn (LLSC) and Steph Wingeatt (LLSC).
In the handicap fleet it was the Phantom of mark Dingsdale (LLSC) who took the win from the Albacore of Mike/Kay Banner (Winsford Flash SC) with the Enterprise of Dave/Michele Raines (LLSC) in third
After lunch the fleets launched again in a light and fading breeze and all fleets sailed a windward/leeward course. In the Asymetric fleet, who were given an extra lap by the (popular?) OOD just as the wind died to nothing, it was an emphatic win by Caroline Exley/Jude Allen (RS400 – LLSC) with McKeand/Partington only managing a second with Kenyon/Dawson third.
In the Lasers it was John Wingeatt (LLSC) who took the win this time with Green second and a consistant Haslewood again third.
Tempted by the breeze at the start of race 2 a further two Solos took to the water and it was Paul Heath (LLSC) who took the bullet from Bristow with another new starter, Kim Cant (LLSC), in third.
In the junior fleet there were new faces at the front with Madie Bristow (LLSC) in one of her first sails in the RS Tera Sport, taking first place followed by Alex Woods (Laser radial – LLSC) and Matt Leckie (Topper – LLSC) third.
In the handicap fleet it was the Banner Albacore that took the win with Dingsdale second and Nick (I’m fast when I don’t capsize) Turpin (RS600 – LLSC) in third.
Full results and details on how to enter the series online via webcollect to receive a big discount can be found via the club websitehttp://webcollect.org.uk/llsc/event/winter-championships
You can also enter on the day at the reception desk’
The Revett Series – Prizes for Asymmetric, Laser, Solos, Juniors and Handicap. 12.00pm start. 2 races.
10th November 2013 Sunday Race 1&2 1st December 2013 Sunday Race 7&8
17th November 2013 Sunday Race 3&4 8th December 2013 Sunday Race 9&10
24th November 2013 Sunday Race 5&6