Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick Lake Sailing

Storm Noah was forecast with weather warnings for wind so we were pleasantly surprised to welcome 26 boats and 29 sailors to Shotwick for the first Tuesday event of the Border Counties series.

This is a very friendly family series with a mix of ages from Juniors to Geoff in his Miracle (along with Sara) who had just celebrated his 80th birthday the previous weekend.

Geoff, our young 80 year old still going strong, during the Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick - photo © Brian Herring

The morning began with a pleasant force 4 but this was forecast to rise to force 5 and beyond in the afternoon. The gusty conditions were ably managed by OOD Jonathon Edwards, setting some good courses to reflect the changing wind.

The course was set for race 1,but the start was delayed due to the wind switching direction, we waited and then it came back to the original direction and the OOD was able to get everyone away cleanly. With the wind picking up it was very congested at the first buoy but Pete Coop, last year's series winner in his Supernova getting there first and led the way to finish first on handicap too. Places changed quickly on the lake as we went from screaming across the lake to zero wind, it was very odd. After handicap adjustments, Kieran Lewis 2nd in his Solo and Jeremy Cooper 3rd in his Lightning. The first double handed boat was Mark Nield and his dad John in their Enterprise and first junior was Jessica Skelding in her Byte C1.

Brave Andy Todd flying his spinnaker on such a windy day during the Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick - photo © Brian Herring

The forecast had given to get windier and wet in the afternoon so we decided to change the format to two races then lunch then another race. For Race 2 we kept the same course the wind was again very gusty and changeable and this time the race was taken by Eric Haseldon in his Supernova followed by Pete Coop,Supernova and then Andy Todd in his RS100 only to lose 3rd place on handicap to Kieran Lewis in his Solo. First double handed was Mark Nield and dad John in their Enterprise, first junior was Nayth Kukla in his Topper.

1st Junior Nayth Kukla during the Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick - photo © Brian Herring

Dinner was a welcome break giving people a chance to fill up with tea and cake from the galley (thanks to Dot,Vicky and Julie). The wind was now picking up so the course was changed and we got going for R3 where rather surprisingly 19 boats took to the water. Race 3 was led by the Supernovas of Pete Coop,Duncan Cheshire and Phil Watson but after handicap results it was Pete coop 1st Kieran Lewis 2nd and Paul Newman 3rd with 1st double Dave Thomas and Shan Stapley and 1st junior Nayth Kukla (who did his first full turtle manoeuvre).

The day was finished off with prize-giving where the results were:

1st Pete Coop, Supernova (Winsford)
2nd Kieran Lewis, Solo (Shotwick)
3rd Paul Newman, Streaker (Shotwick)
1st Double handed Dave Thomas & Shan Stapley
1st Junior Nayth Kukla, Topper (Winsford)

Thanks to our OOD Jonathon Edwards assisted by Karen Snee and our two safety boats who had a busy day Andy Clay/Beth Snee and Les Perry. Without all the volunteer helpers these events could not take place so thank you.

A busy day for the safety boats during the Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Shotwick - photo © Brian Herring

We had a great day's sailing and a fantastic turnout and now looking forward to round 2 at Budworth on May 16th.

Overall Results: