Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Dolphin Sails sponsored Early Autumn series

by Richard Baldwin on 9 Oct 2008
The fifth race of Liverpool Yacht Club’s Dolphin Sails sponsored Early Autumn series was held on Sunday 5 October. Sixteen yachts formed up on the start line in sunny conditions but with only a fitful northerly wind.

Race Officer Nick Ogden set two challenging courses one for the class 1 yachts which saw them sailing upriver before embarking on a long beat into the tide to Dukes buoy before returning upriver by which time the tide had turned and the course had to be shortened.

The second course sent both the class 2 & 3 fleets up the Garston channel where the wind virtually disappeared but excellent seamanship enabled all the fleet to inch across the channel and scrape past G3 before crossing to the Eastham channel and E4. This again proved to be a long leg and before anyone reached the mark Nick Ogden decided to shorten the course and after rounding the mark to return to the finish line.

In the fitful drifting conditions the fleet were still close together at E4. However the 'Weather Gods' must have been listening as no sooner had the fleet rounded E4 but the wind picked up to a good F4. and so it largely became a sprint to the finish although there was the occasional wind hole which changed the fleet order.

Class 1 line honours were taken by Richard Booth’s Another Nods followed by Keith Lord’s 'A Crewed Interest'. However the light wind favoured the lower handicapped yachts with Andy Farrell’s 'The f word' coming in first 29 secs ahead of LYC Treasurer Mark Blanchard in Jenevieve with Stan Edge a further 41 secs behind in Rebel.

In class 2 Steve Harrison won the class 27 secs ahead of another Sigma 33 Paul Hampson’s Magic Moments with Andy Freeney third in Mistoffelees.

All 5 of the class 3 yachts, who had sailed the same course as class 2, beat all the class 2 yachts on handicap. Warwick Telfer in Clarevouyant was first with Andy Napper’s Di –Rich second followed by Jeanette and Dave Hardy’s Hocus Pocus.

Results:

Class 1:
1st. Andy Farrell’s Projection762 'The f word'
2nd. Mark & Helen Blanchard’s J92 Jenevieve.
3rd. Stan Edge’s Prima 38 Rebel

Class 2:
1st. Steve Harrison’s Sigma 33 Quattro.
2nd. Paul Hampson’s Sigma 33 Magic Moments.
3rd. Andy Freeney’s Hunter HB31 Mistoffelees.

Class 3:
1st. Warwick Telfer’s Achilles 24 Clarevouyant.
2nd. Andy Napper’s GK24 Di-Rich
3rd. Jeanette and Dave Hardy’s Int H boat Hocus Pocus
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPalm Beach Motor YachtsHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Related Articles

Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore!
Posted today at 3:00 pm
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul