Race Results FFSC Under 16ft trophy Date: 08/10/2011…………
Location: Fidlers Ferry sailing Club
1st Simba GP14 Helm Ian Scouler
2nd Overdraught GP14 Helm Nick Lowe
3rd X Topper Helm Eden WallRace 1 Commenced with the wind increasing to force 3 making the racing very challenging for the under 16ft fleet over the short course circuit, making the race quick and those who made the fewest mistakes the winner. The Laser of Kim Devereux made a great start with the Topper of Eden Wall close bye as they rounded the first mark together. But from that point onwards the Laser was seldom put under any pressure from the rest of the fleet and went on to easily win the first leg of the trophy. The two GP14s made good ground over the water and spent most of the race battling each other for the second spot over the line which was taken by Ian Scouler in Simba gaining some 1min & 5 seconds over third boat Overdraught with Nick Lowe at the helm.
Race 2 started with the withdrawal of Kim Devereux who found a problem with her boat and could not continue, leaving the Gps favourites to take the title. Simba went into an early lead, which look like it was going to be an easy win for Ian Scouler and crew Jade Flynn. Bur Nick Lowe had other ideas and pulled out on of the best performances of the season, clawing back the lead after the third lap and taking the lead with just two marks to go. GP14 Overdraught won the race by a good 100 meters for Simba but unfortunately not enough when the two race times were added together missing out on the 2011 title by 3 seconds.
Third place was taken by youngster Eden Wall who used the Topper after her brother failed to turn up with their PICO dinghy so this really made for an outstanding performance on a make shift boat.
The good news for Eden was she took 3rd place overall in the trophy race when the results were combined giving the young sailor a day to remember.
Overall the experience of Ian Scouler in the GP won the day and the trophy, but what would have been the result if the Laser of Kim Devereux had not been withdrawn, who knows but next years under 16ft will be interesting
Race Results FFSC Novice Trophy Date: 08/10/2011…………
Location: Fidlers Ferry sailing Club
1st X Topper12184 Helm Eden Wall
2nd Simba GP14 Helm Jade Flynn
3rd Overdraught GP 14 Helm Nick Lowe
This competition is aimed at the new sailor or junior who have never won a race, and today’s field consisted of 6 boats, The race started at 10am with two short courses set, although the weather was not fair there was just enough wind to get the race away.
The first race was dominated by 11 year old Jade Flynn supported by top club sailor Ian Scouler as her crew; as they made an excellent start followed by the GP of Nick Lowe and 7 year old Colin Flynn. At the first mark Jade was well clear of the field a position which would not change as she crossed the winning line to take her first ever win in competition. The 5 boats behind soon made up for the poor start and a good battle commenced as they fought to get the inside line round the mark. Kim Devereux in her Laser “Back Off” made up ground followed by the Topper of Eden Wall aged 14. With the wind strengthening the race speeds increased as the race went on and the final positions over the line saw the Topper with its better handicap move in to the top 3 behind race winner Jade Flynn.
Race 2 started better than race 1 with all sailors keen to get good starts, and Kin Devereux made a very quick start and took the lead which she held throughout the race, but had to work hard from early challenges from Jade Flynn and then Nick Lowe with 2nd and 3rd placed changing with each lap. Eden Wall in the Topper made steady progress and stayed in touch with all the boats but did not have the speed to overtake the front three who failed to recognise that the Topper had the advantage of a great handicap.
Race two was won by Kim Devereux who even though she capsized at the last mark, recovered well enough to take the race by a big margin. Her capsize did reduce that lead enough to lose her 3 places overall as the race totals were combined to sort out the Novice Champion for 2011.
Eden Wall with the Topper had just done enough to win the competition outright, but all of the competitors sailed very well and far above the novice status accorded them. A special mention for Matt Scouler & Ben in there new boat, who did well in their first competitive race together as helm and crew, before a fault developed on the Jib which forced them to retire early.
With the top two junior girls taking 1st & 2nd “This was a brilliant effort, considering they only started sailing this season”, stated their coach Ken Southall. Bodes well for the futureRace Results Mersey Basin & RLNI Regatta race Date: 08/10/2011…………
Location: Fidlers Ferry sailing Club
1st Tomohawk Falcon Helm Tony Tomlinson
2nd Redfoot Falcon Helm Ian Scouler
3rd Nighthawk Falcon Helm Adrian Dodd
Today’s race was set against a severe weather forecast which indicated strong to gale force winds as the day progressed, which in the end was correct and for some boats a really challenging day and plenty of capsizing.
14 Boats trawled the line at the start with all boats tasked to make the No1 Buoy Tomlinson Turn 1 mile up river before turning for No 6 mark at Gate worth. All the boats made clean starts and the early lead was taken by Falcon 44 Tomohawk followed by the Albacore of Dave Irvine both rounding together, any one of 6 boats following was fighting for third spot as they rounded number one. Already a big gap had appeared and the fleet had been divided with the smaller craft struggling as the wind and gusts increased.
At the half way mark Falcon 44 had secured a good lead over Falcon 42 & 35 putting the Albacore into a very unsecure 4th place as the GP 14 of Ernie Griffiths closed the gap down to 3 boats lengths. With 3 withdrawal’s and 3 capsizes the safety crews were very busy giving assistance or towing dinghies back to the clubs slipway.
The race was very classical in nature, with boats healed over travelling very fast riding the wind for all it was worth.al Falcon 44 with Tony Tomlinson at the helm took full advantage of this. The battle between Red Foot 42 and Night Hawk 35 was nip and took before the weight advantage of the heavier crew of Redfoot came in to play as the wind speeds increased.
Finally Tomohawk crossed the line to record their 9th win of the season some 3 minutes clear of second boat Redfoot 42 who finished 2 minutes clear of NightHawk 35. These 3 boats have performed really well all season so it came as no surprize that they took the podium positions. Fourth and fifth spot was determined by a capsize on the last lap by Dave Irvine in the Albacore giving the GP 14 the time and space to clear the flounder boat, but the Albacore recovered quickly but could not catch the GP14 who took the fourth spot.
Alan Dodd junior laser champion changed boats today to try a Solo Dinghy and finished in 6th place a creditable performance for a light boat in difficult conditions. Our hero of the day was Steve Wall in his 420 Dinghy who finished the course some 45 minutes after the winning boat crossed the line. 7 boats retired from the race, this was the first running of the RLNI Regatta/ Mersey Basin Trophy and one would think the Lifeboat Service would have been at home in these changing conditions?
Hot refreshments were welcomed by all the participants and the hard working safety boat crews, thanks to Emma Flynn.
Colin Howard, Sailing Sec
