Hollowell Sailing Club Spring Series
by Stewart Elder 9 May 2016 10:03 PDT
8 May 2016
Hollowell Spring Series © Stewart Elder
It took the last race of the Hollowell Spring Series to sort out the positions after a very successful 25 race series. A total of 73 boats took part and was not until the last day (Sunday 8th) that sorted once and for all the final positions.
In particular, a very completive Symmetric Fleet race throughout the series between the top Symmetric fleet boats Mike/Helen Playle in their Hartley Wayfarer, Alistair and Bernadette McMillan, Merlin Rocket and the most consistent boat of all Stewart Elder and Gillian Creaser in the GP14. It was this pair, as usual that showed the rest superb tacking synchronization. The GP despite sailing with a storm jib gave the others a run for their money. Elder held a perfect line while his crew held up very well despite the strong winds blowing south westerly. Their tacking and jibbing under extreme conditions left the large crowd watching on shore in awe and stunned silent admiration. Pressure eased off the others after the GP elite team thinking they had second place in the bag did not come out for the third and last race – and lesson to be learnt was in the news from the Committee boat that that Merlin Rocket had retired after a mainsheet cleat broke. If the GP had gone out all they needed to do was beat the Wayfarer and they would have had top place!
Elder commented' We see ourselves as the Leicester City of sailing after years of languishing in the Bronze Fleet we are coming now for the big boys now in these Phantoms'.
The 'best of the rest' prizes were given to Martin Hudson (Laser Fleet) Keith Lancaster (Solo Fleet) and Barny Creaser, (Streaker, Sgle Handed fleet).
Full results at www.hollowellsc.org.uk/2016%20Spring%20Sunday%20fleets.htm