Crewsaver Tipsy Icicle Week 1 – 88 boats take to the water

After several weeks of no sailing due to the winter break, and high winds causing the cancellation of the New Years day pursuit race, the first sail of the New Year at Leigh & Lowton sailing club kicked off in some style with the first weekend of the ‘Crewsaver’ sponsored Tipsy Icicle series.

On arrival there was a 6 knot breeze from the south east which picked up as the day went on and so it was that 88 boats and 107 sailors took to the water on a slightly overcast day as the race team for the series, led by Peter and Judith Baldwin, got the racing under way at midday with a four fleet starting sequence.

The revised starting procedure for the series meant that the first fleet away was the 22 boat Laser fleet. In the early patchy and fluctuating breeze it was Jack Hopkins (Delph SC) who showed he means business as he took the win from John Wingeatt (LLSC) Glyn Purnell (LLSC) finished third closely followed by ‘new boy’ Neil Skellam (LLSC) in fourth.

Second away was the 28 boat handicap fleet which for race 1 included 10 Solos (the results of which will be taken seperately from the handicap finish) In the main fleet mention is given to the 7 Supernovas that had travelled from Bolton sailing club for the series however the winner of race 1 was Richard Catchpole (RS300 – LLSC) Gareth Williams (Europe – LLSC) was second, Peter Mackin (Supernova – Bolton SC) third and Mike Banner/Kay Woods (Albacore – LLSC) in fourth. In the Solo fleet Paul Heath (LLSC) took an early lead but capsized and was overhauled by Patrick Hamilton (Burwain SC) who then went on to take the win by some distance from Ian Harridge (Nantwich SC) in second and Andy Fox (LLSC) in third.

Next away were the 16 boat Asymmetric fleet who sailed a windward/leeward course. As the race progressed the breeze began to pick up with occasional 13 knot gusts and this resulted in mixed fortunes for the fleet as large distances were gained or lost. The winner by some distance, both on the water and on corrected time, was the RS400 of Joshua and Patrick Metcalfe (Port Dinorwic SC) followed by Gary Knott/Helen Blackburn (RS400 – LLSC) with Hamish Gledhill/Simon Dowse (RS400 – West Riding SC) in third and Dave Exley/Nigel Hall (RS400 – LLSC) in fourth.

Last away was the 22 boat junior fleet which, like the Asymmetrics, saw places change as the wind gusted through. At the end of the race it was Drew Gibbons (Redesmere SC – Optimist) who took the bullet from Oliver Blackburn in his Topper (LLSC) in second. Tom Wallwork (Redesmere SC – Topper) claimed third and Sam Platt (Bolton SC – Topper) rounded off the top four.

After lunch the fleets launched again in a steady 12 knot breeze which towards the end increased to the occasional 25 knot gust.

In the Laser fleet Jack Hopkins started as he had finished and went on to take the win. Stuart Belfield (LLSC) found the wind a bit more to his liking and claimed second. Neil Skellam went one better to finish third and Oliver Davenport (Redesmere SC) finished fourth.

In the handicap fleet there was a recall sounded but only Gareth Williams went back.  The race in the handicap fleet was eventually won by Andy Flitcroft (Bolton SC – Supernova) with Richard Catchpole second, Gareth Williams third and Alex Collins (Bolton SC – Supernova) in fourth. On crossing the finish line Mike Banner/Kay Woods who were in the mix found themselves to have been OCS. In the Solo fleet it was once again Hamilton who bided his time to take the lead on the last lap and go on to win the race from Heath in second, Harridge third and Fox fourth, these three finishing within seconds of each other.

The increase in wind and the occasional gust shook up the results in the junior fleet as this time the race winner was Steph Wingeatt (LLSC – Topper) Second was Roscoe Martin (Ogston SC – RS Tera), third Drew Gibbons and fourth Olivia Cuthbert (LLSC – Optimist) There was a protest in the fleet which resulted in a few retirements once ashore.

The asymmetric fleet once again sailed a windward/leeward and in this race Paul/Mike Allen (LLSC – RS400) seemed to enjoy the greater breeze as they raced away from the rest of the fleet to take the win. They were followed across the line by the Metcalfe brothers who found out that they were OCS. Dave Exley/Nigel Hall (LLSC – RS400) took second, Caroline Exley/Judith Allen (LLSC – RS400) third and fourth on corrected time was the RS200 of Louise McKeand/Cathy Partington (LLSC)

Sound exciting? Well come and join us next Sunday, 12th January for races 3 & 4 in the ‘Crewsaver’ Tipsy Icicle series the largest dinghy winter series in the country. Its a midday start and full details on how to enter the series online via webcollect (to receive a big discount prior to the 16/1/2014) can be found on the club websitehttp://webcollect.org.uk/llsc/event/winter-championships You can also enter on the day at the reception desk.

We look forward to seeing you.

LLSC website: http://leighandlowton.wordpress.com/

Full results can be found on: https://llsc.org.uk/LLSC/Results/2014Tipsy.htm