GP14 Open Meeting at West Kirby Sailing Club

by Rob Fraser on 4 Jul 2012 GP14 Open Meeting was held at West Kirby Sailing Club over the weekend of 30th June and 1st July 2012. Saturday’s windy conditions had been expected to moderate but Sunday morning saw no lessening of the steady Force 5 often gusting 6 from the west to northwest. Fortunately, the marine lake at West Kirby provided relatively flat water compared to the wind against tide conditions that prevailed out in the Dee estuary.

Fourteen boats registered, split equally between home club members and visitors, a fair turnout considering the run of poor weather. The plan was to have six short races and Mike de St Paer, the RO, set a course optimising the wind direction and the shape of the lake. Two beats, a run, and reaches, provided three spinnaker legs with some exciting planing.

A challenging first race with all boats getting used to the conditions, resulted in a number of capsizes, including gold fleet sailors. Peter Jacques crewed by Pete Tate, the defending cup holders from Chase CS, won the first race followed by Adam Froggatt and Emily Cole-Evans of Chase SC. If anything, the wind strengthened in the second race which left some struggling to compete but enjoying every minute of the sailing and the display of seamanship by the Gold Fleet. This time Neil Platt, from the home club crewed by Derek Hill crossed the line first with Peter Jacques second. Wobbles on the gybe mark and other vulnerable points led to more upturned boats and the RO called an early lunch to allow gear to be sorted and hoping for some easing of conditions later.

In the event, the blow continued after lunch and all but Neil Platt from the home club decided to leave it to the travellers to complete three further races in the afternoon. Lee Thomas crewed by Greg Thomas from Southport SC won the first of the afternoon races. Second place was close fought between Neil Platt and Peter Jacques who swapped places on each lap, with Neil ahead on the line. Neil triumphed in the second race followed by Lee. In the final race Peter Jacques held the lead from the start to take the win with Rich Bennet from South Staffs SC crewed by Sarah Froggatt in second place. At the end of the day Neil Platt and Peter Jacques where level at seven points each. A count back made Peter Jacques and crew Pete Tate the overall winners. So congratulations to Peter who can return the silverware to the same shelf for a further year.

Results:
West Kirby Sailing Club GP14 Class Association website

Position	Sail No	Helm Name	Crew Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts.
1st	14039	Peter Jacques	Pete Tate	Chase Sailing Club	1.0	2.0	(3.0)	3.0	1.0	7.0
2nd	13924	Neil Platt	Derek Hill	West Kirby S.C.	(6.0)	1.0	2.0	1.0	3.0	7.0
3rd	14109	Lee Thomas	Greg Thomas	Southport S.C.	(15.0 DNF)	4.0	1.0	2.0	5.0	12.0
4th	13711	Richard Bennett	Sarah Froggatt	South Staffs S.C.	4.0	3.0	(7.0)	5.0	2.0	14.0
5th	14063	Martin Brennan	Alister Knott	Hollingworth Lake SC	3.0	(15.0 DNF)	6.0	6.0	6.0	21.0
6th	14032	Adam Froggatt	Emily Cole-Evans	Chase Sailing Club	2.0	6.0	4.0	(15.0 DNF)	15.0 DNC	27.0
7th	13456	Matt Binks	Alan Jones	N & BC S C	5.0	(15.0 DNC)	8.0	7.0	7.0	27.0
8th	13806	Tim Harper	Laura Richardson	Southport S.C.	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	5.0	4.0	4.0	28.0
9th	13113	Jean Louis Simmons	Jacques Simmons	West Kirby S.C.	7.0	5.0	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	42.0
10th	12439	Rob A.Fraser	Henry Hughes	West Kirby S.C.	8.0	8.0	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	46.0
11th	13567	Sam Mc Dougall	Sophie Miles	West Kirby S.C.	10.0	7.0	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	47.0
12th	13978	Martin Stanley	Holly Marston	West Kirby S.C.	9.0	9.0	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	48.0
13th	13701	Alan Lewis	Gorden Roberts	West Kirby S.C.	11.0	10.0	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	51.0
14th	13426	Andy Paul	Neil	West Kirby S.C.	(15.0 DNF)	15.0 DNF	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	60.0