Swordfish Open Meeting at Hornsea Sailing Club

Swordfish from Hornsea and West Riding Sailing Clubs met in equal numbers to compete on Hornsea Mere over the weekend of the 21st –22nd September.

Saturday was bright and sunny with a force 2-3. 216 Alan & Helen Beecham led off the start line of the first race only to be soon ensnared by weed. Eventually 50 Brian Ruston crewed by Lorrie Beecham won the race chased by155 Andy Gilding and A.Sweeting with 216 third. In race two 155 again pressed the eventual winner 211 Stephen Sharp and Gary Wildridge hard.

Sunday was very different. A force 4-5 was blowing with gusts of 6+ and squally rain. Race three saw 155, 211 and 172 battling. An exciting spinnaker reach from 216 saw them briefly come back into contention before capsizes from them and 155 left 172 Bill Gardner and James Padgett to take the line honours followed by 211.

Race four gave 155 his first win, chased home by 172. With four different winners from four races everything was still to sail for in race five.155 took the honours and the series followed by 157 Malcolm McDonald and Ted Farrance. The minor places were settled when 172’s rudder broke letting the capsized 211 take third place.

Overall Results: