Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman were run away winners in a glorious but fickle New Year's Day. Chris commented afterwards that he had been trying to win a pursuit race at Leigh & Lowton for close on 20 years and was delighted to finally do that. It's an event that has always attracted stiff competition, even if some may be suffering a little from the night before!
A decent breeze got Lochlyn Grant (LLSC) off to a good start in his Optimist, but the breeze had died away by the time the Toppers started, amassing a great turnout for the event. It looked for all the world as if the wind would die for good and at one point during the Laser start there was hardly a breath.
But the forecast was for the wind to shift and fill in, which it did earlier than predicted (fortunately for some). The faster boats took full advantage with the RS200s onwards starting in better breeze. With the wind continuing to build it was no surprise an hour or so later to see the RS400 (Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman - Bassenthwaite), Phantom (Martin Knott - LLSC) and Blaze closing in fast on the lead Solo (Andy Carter - LLSC) and the Oppie. Andy hung on to claim 3rd.
Martin gave the RS400 a run for its money as the wind swung to produce some very tight reaching legs, but couldn't make sufficient inroads to really threaten their lead.
The juniors were overtaken early by the faster boats but had their own excellent racing to keep them entertained. The eventual winner was Laser Radial Bill Morris (Delph) followed by 420 Jasper Bramwell and Lewis Bacon (Hollingworth & LLSC). Lochlyn Grant was 3rd in his Optimist after his 3-hour epic sail.
Overall Results:
Pos Class Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 Pts
1st RS 400 1453 Chris Pickles Matt Sharman Bassenthwaite 1 1
2nd Phantom 1434 Martin Knott LLSC 2 2
3rd Solo 5615 Andy Carter LLSC 3 3
4th Blaze 760 Mark Fearnley South Windermere 4 4
5th RS 200 847 Chris Smallwood Benjamin Smallwood Budworth 5 5
6th GP14 13654 Neil Marsden Blackpool & Fleetwood 6 6
7th Devoti D‑one 105 Tom Welz LLSC 7 7
8th Streaker 1942 Steve Blackburn LLSC 8 8
9th Wayfarer 10747 Louise Mckeand Nigel Hall LLSC 9 9
10th Phantom 1380 John Harrison Rudyard Lake 10 10
11th Laser 211111 Howard Green LLSC 11 11
12th Solo 5849 Darren Nield Elton 12 12
13th Laser 221314 Paul Heath LLSC 13 13
14th Laser 220826 Gordon Riddell Delph 14 14
15th Laser 213094 Ian Ritchie LLSC 15 15
16th Solo 5617 Stephen Restall Elton 16 16
17th Blaze 671 Chas Coghill LLSC 17 17
18th RS 800 1225 Liz Watton Chris Williams LLSC 18 18
19th Laser 47 Glyn Purnell LLSC 19 19
20th Solo 4985 Kim Cant LLSC 20 20
21st Laser Radial 221508 Bill Morris Delph 21 21
22nd Wayfarer 10700 Michael Chadwick Bethany Chadwick LLSC 22 22
23rd Laser 180672 Bill Busby LLSC 23 23
24th RS 200 891 Dan McLean Flynn McLean LLSC 24 24
25th Laser 201073 Martyn Catlow LLSC 25 25
The Winter Series continues with the Icicle Series starting next weekend 7th January.
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