2025 County Cooler at Notts County Sailing Club

After Storm Eowyn on Friday, which undoubtedly put a few off travelling, Saturday was relatively calm and sunny. Apart from being cool it was ideal sailing conditions.

The 2025 County Cooler at Notts County Sailing Club attracted thirty-four dinghies and seven windsurfers for the two day event, nearly half were visitors from local clubs taking part in the four part Midlands series.

Startline during the 2025 Notts County Cooler - photo © David Eberlin

Martin Hayhoe the race officer got the event off to a prompt start. The first race was held in great conditions, there was pause for lunch and two more back to back races, all in sunshine and light to moderate winds.

After Saturday's racing Joe Scurrah from Notts County was leading in his Aero, with John Tailby and Chris Martin (Notts County & Staunton) in a Scorpion in second place and Kevin Hope & Andy Stewart (Notts County) in a Fireball thirds, 4th was Chris Swallow (Burton) in a K1, a good spread of results and boats lining up for Sunday's final two races.

Joe Scurrah (left) and John Tailby & Chris Martin during the 2025 Notts County Cooler - photo © David Eberlin

The racing on Sunday was noticeably colder with an increasing wind. After the first race there was a break to allow sailors and safety teams to refuel and warm up. About a third of the fleet decided to stay ashore for the final race and pack up. The race team ran this as a handicap as opposed to a pursuit to give the option to shorten course should conditions worsen as was forecast. Conditions became gusty and testing, with a 16 mph average wind speed and 28mph gusts, causing plenty of capsizes. The safety team were kept busy assisting competitors all day.

Joe kept his overnight lead to win overall, with two more firsts, followed by John and Chris in a Scorpion and Kevin & Andy in the Fireball. Nigel Potter and Gerry Haninabus improved on their overnight position of 13th to come 4th overall. First Lady was Rebecca Ogden (Notts County) in an Aero in 6th overall.

Prizewinners at the 2025 Notts County Cooler - photo © John Sears

The windsurfers saw Burton's Sam Birch on equal points with Joe Faulkner but was second in the final race, one ahead of Joe to take the trophy. The final race was won by Natalie Orgonova who could possibly have won overall if she hadn't spent Saturday coaching the team.

Sam Birch, winner of the windsurfers in the 2025 Notts County Cooler - photo © David Eberlin

The Cooler is part of a four event series at East Midland Sailing Clubs. The next event is the Burton Blizzard on 8/9 February where dinghies and windsurfers are welcome (there will be a separate windsurf course), then the dinghies only move onto Staunton on 22/23 February with the finale at Ogston on 1/2 March. All are welcome to the events.

More photos at www.ncsc.org.uk/county-cooler-25

Overall Results: