Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 at Northampton Sailing Club

Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 at Northampton © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

With the gate open soon after 7.00 am and with over 50 volunteers the galley started preparing for over 100 sailors in 70 boats from as far away as Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire down to Norfolk, Essex and Dorset.

The course was set using the whole of the lake with the sponsors' P&B cylindrical marks in a figure-of-eight course. With a light to moderate south westerly the first race got away on time at 11.00 am except for the Flying 15 of Chris White of Northampton who was 6 minutes late to the start.

There were 40 double handed boats beating up towards the clubhouse with the amazing Norfolk Punt of Colin and Oli Murray rounding second and taking off after the 505 of Ian Pinnell to win the first race. The RS400 of Michael Sims was second and the Scorpion of Alan Krailing was third, the 505 fourth and youth Ellen Morley from Hollowell was fifth in her Feva XL.

On the way to the start of the second race for single handers, Rich Adams lost his balance and took a swim in his RS300 and Oli Wells was also seen taking a dip after deciding to sail his RS600 instead of a Solo. Sailing the same course, previous winner Will Gulliver of NSC sailing a Phantom was pinching so much that he got squeezed onto the committee boat and had to man handle his way round to start at the back of the fleet. NSC youth Abigail Larr was also testing the water temperature as she capsized just after the start.

Andy Couch, previous winner, pulled away in his Phantom but Tom Gillard sailing his Solo was close enough to take the win on handicap. Martin Honnor of Ogston SC was third in another Solo, Chris Larr was fourth in his RS Aero 9 beating last year's overall winner Tim Hire, RS Aero 9 (still a youth) into fifth.

Ellen Morley and Hazel take the First Junior prize at the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

With swift race management and each fleet taking a quick lunch between races, the PRO was able to get races 3 and 4 away promptly giving hour long races. In the doubles the top two positions were reversed giving Michael Sims the overall win on count back over the Norfolk Punt of the Murrays. Sam Knight and Chris Bownes in their RS400 from Bartley SC came in third, making them sixth overall.

The single handers got away clean with Tom Gillard holding the pin end and making three quick tacks to keep clear air which later paid off when the wind dropped as he caught Andy Couch to take his second bullet with the Phantom second and Tim Hire third.

Michael Sims and Mark Lunn win the double-handed fleet at the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

With the double handed results in, their prize-giving started at 4pm with Commodore Miles O'Dell sporting his blazer and chinos speaking about Steve Nicholson and how he would have been proud to see so many sailors of all ages enjoying themselves. He thanked the sponsors Harken, Gull and P&B for their very generous support and prizes. Michael Sims and Mark Lunn, RS400, took the Steve Nicholson Trophy having won the event overall. He thanked NSC for organising such a well run event once again. Prizes were given out to youth and juniors down to sixth place.

The single handed results followed with NSC's newest member, Hunter Stewart (7 days old) arriving in time to see his dad Gary who had been on rescue duty all day. Tom Gillard in his Solo took the trophy from Andy Couch, Martin Honnor and Chris Larr. Tom again thanked NSC and the sponsors of the event in Steve's memory.

Tom Gillard wins the single-handed fleet at the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Double-handed Results:

Single-handed Results:

Ellen Morley and Hazel take the First Junior prize at the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy 2020 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk