What started in calm weather turned into a steady breeze towards the end of sailing.

A great turn out of 9 boats considering a few were on holiday, Xmas plans and away at Birkenhead with the IOMs

To the racing, champagne sailing, B rig down the lake. A good stuff breeze down the lake. A full lap of the lake was sailed from the top spreader down to the bridge.

Race 1 was edged by Gordon in a match race with Mark Gordon then proceeded to win the next four races with Marks sail winch line being temperamental meaning equipment issues costing him between race 2 and 5.

After getting the “other” hull out after lunch, Mark and Gordon restarted the match race sharing the wins after the lunch until Marks battery packing up in the last race when in the lead!

Gordon overall a worth winner, ahead of Mark and Peter Iles.

The middle pack performed well changing places throughout the 10 races.

Today was a race officers nightmare….. Mark standing in as RO for thirst hour helping Bob set the course. Bob stepping back from races after Race 4 to help the scores.

A reachy start and a sort of zig zag course to get some beats in making for some very difficult, tactical sailing.

A great turnout with a few absentees watching football or at the AGM 14 yachts hitting the water with a variety of hull colours brightening up the lake.

Racing was good and the fleet continues to develop so credit to everyone.

8 race winners across 12 races shows the level of competition developing

Ian Sinclair, banana number 11 sailed consistently through the day to take the victory with 24 points ahead of Terry Reed also performing well.

Peter Guest in third making up the podium, being pushed by Ian H

Notable performance by Paul Fishwick in fifth (banana 19), who finished an impressive fifth and is proof that practice is paying off.

Peter W and Sharons yacht seem to manage find each other no matter where they were on the lake. Rob J sailing in B Rig (00), let’s not talk about “why” Nice to see Garry back on the water!

Despite the alarming weather forecasts about “Storm Bert”, four skippers fitted their smallest sails onto their 36R yachts, waited for the rain to ease a little, then ventured outside to do some racing. Understandingly other skippers, who were hoping to attend, but living miles away, did the sensible thing and stayed at home.

The wind was from the South, making tricky sailing conditions, but was not as strong as the forecasts. However, the rain persisted so just one round was sailed. As there were no mates available we sailed one pair at a time per heat, with the other skippers manning the mates’ bank.  

Final Results

1st   Peter Whiteside          10 points

2nd  Olly Murray                  9

3rd   Peter Iles                      8

4th   Eric Austwick                3

We were pleased to welcome Peter Iles in his first event as a Vane 36R skipper, with his recently purchased yacht.

A pretty good turnout considering the time of year for the 65s in a good blow

10 yachts hitting the water with Olly completing a clean sweep of the 14 races sailed.

Steve Matt and Ian Sinclair making up the podium, with some close racing from second onwards.

Good to see the 65 fleet making a resurgence considering some notable absentees!

There were 7 entries for the above event. The forecasted wind direction was SE and there was hardly a ripple on the lake at start time. However we started on time and made the best of these tricky conditions. Three heats were sailed by lunch time but by about 3-30 pm the lake was flat calm after completing one board of heat 6. As Olly Murray hadn’t dropped a single point, including taking the run from 2nd place Derek Priestley in Heat 6, even if Derek could win the beat back he would still be 1 point behind Olly and Heat 7 was Derek’s bye. It was therefore decided to declare Olly the winner and stop racing at that point.

Thanks are due to Bob Jolly for manning the Mates’ Bank, along with the bye boat skipper.

Results

1st    Olly Murray          100%

2nd   Derek Priestley      85.1%

3rd   Peter Whiteside     68.2%       

4th   John Sharman       28%

5th= Peter Guest           22.7%

5th= Eric Austwick        22.7%

7th   Walter Audley       18.2%

Another great turnout. the fleet has grown massively this year and considering how many boats could have joined the party, we could be getting some big fleets next season. If anyone else is looking to join the class get in touch!

It looks like a competitive race between the top 4 boats.

John Sharman winning (Alioth?), pipping Paul Middleton with his new V11 and Derek P (Dead Reckoning) making up the podium.

Olly chasing them into fourth with his Sedici.

We welcomed Harry Balderstone to the racing (guest) and at the bottom, Rob beating Sharon 😜

Again big shout out to Bob for scoring – legend

Strong winds from the S East / S West and heavy rain greeted the competitors on Day 2, the final day of the above Championship. With the unwelcomed change in conditions the competitors were asked if they were willing to continue to race and 2 decided  to retire, as they did not have sails small enough for the conditions.

Racing continued and the last 6 heats were completed by the remaining competitors.

Final Results

1st    Chris Harris                     Windrush                     44 points

2nd   Lewis Wyeth                   Gosport                        43

3rd    Shaun Wyeth                  Gosport                        43

(No time for sail-off, 2nd & 3rd positions decided on count back)

4th    Thomas Wyeth               Gosport                         41

5th    Peter Whiteside              Fleetwood                     32

6th    Russell Wyeth                 Gosport                         28

7th    Oliver Murray                  Fleetwood                     24

8th    David Mathers                 Hampton Court             17

9th=  Alan & David Bell           Fleetwood                       16

9th=  Peter Iles                         Fleetwood                       16

11th= Derek Priestley               Fleetwood                       13

11th= Eric Austwick                  Fleetwood                        13 

13th    Max Buttimer                 Vintage MYG                    12

14th    Tony Wilson                   Fleetwood                          8

Top skipper on Day 1 was Lewis Wyeth who received the N District Vane M Trophy

Top skipper on Day 2 was Shaun Wyeth who received the Clapham Cup

Highest placed skipper who has not won a MYA National Championship was Thomas Wyeth 

who received the Model Maker Trophy.

Highest placed Classic or Vintage yacht skipper was David Mathers

Top Team of Two (TOTS), comprising a Classic or Vintage and a Modern designed yacht

was won by Alan & David Bell (Vintage yacht) and Shaun Wyeth (Modern yacht) with a combined score of 59 points.

Thanks are due to Alan Oxlade for starting and Helen and Ann for scoring.

There were entries from Gosport, Windrush, Hampton Court, Vintage Model Yacht Group and the host Club Fleetwood, giving a total of 14 yachts, the highest number for many years.

Seven heats were sailed today. The wind was a light westerly, giving ideal sailing conditions with most skippers using spinnakers for the runs.

1st    Lewis Wyeth                 31 points

2nd   Chris Harris                  27

3rd    Shaun Wyeth               26

4th=  Thomas Wyeth            25

4th=  Peter Whiteside           25

6th = Olly Murray                 20

6th =  Russell Wyeth            20

8th    Alan & David Bell        16

9th    Derek Priestley            13

10th= David Mathers           12

10th= Max Buttimer             12

12th   Eric Austwick                8

13th   Peter Iles                      7

14th   Tony Wilson                 3