Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick Lake

Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick © Les Perry

Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick © Les Perry

Competitors arriving at Shotwick Lake on Tuesday morning were treated to a warm welcome and glorious sunshine more akin to the Mediterranean than to North Wales. The icing on the cake was a decent breeze that was to last all day and temperatures that approached 30 degrees in the afternoon.

The fleet comprised eleven visitors, including seven from Winsford, and nine home boats sailing ten different classes. Many of the first-time visitors commented on the delightful location and open stretch of water especially as it appears on the map to be so close to the industrial park.

Race team Ron King and Huw Jones set some excellent courses throughout the day and opted for two back-to-back races in the morning and one race after a leisurely lunch. The safety crew, Paul and Gordon, had a surprisingly busy day considering nobody needed rescuing, and instead put their efforts into moving rafts of weed that had drifted onto the race course at the far end of the lake.

Racing was close throughout the fleet with plenty of place changes as fortunes changed in the gusty south-easterly breeze. The starts and clear air were particularly important.

After the two morning races Pete Coop (Supernova, Winsford) and Ted Graner (Solo, Budworth) both had a first and second. Dave Turtle (Streaker, Shotwick) and Phil Snewin (Solo, Chester) both had a third place so everything was set for a thrilling final race.

Some boats were a little too keen at the start of the last race including Pete Coop who had to return. However, this did not slow him down enough and he did well to fight his way through the fleet to claim overall victory from Ted by just a few seconds. Dave and Kieran (Solo, Shotwick) were equal third which was sufficient to move Kieran up to fourth overall.

First double-handed boat was Mark Nield and his dad making a guest-appearance in his Enterprise.

A great day on the water was rounded off by prize-giving outside of the clubhouse, nobody seemed in a hurry to go home! Overall winner Peter Coop thanked everybody at Shotwick for making it such a success with a special mention to the Les who was always on-hand to help launch and recover the boats.

Overall Results:

The final event in the series is at Winsford on 21st September so why not join us? Check visit bordercountiesmidweeksailing.wordpress.com for more information.

Pete Coop wins the Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick - photo © Les Perry