Junior Racing
The weekend near the longest day of the year was a busy weekend for members of the Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club. A team of 10 under-20 age sailors went to Southport to compete in the annual 12 Hour Race. This is in the form of a relay race, like the Le Mans 24hr car race. Starting at 8 o’clock in the morning, it was a long day’s sailing in generally light and variable winds on the Marine Lake. Sailing a GP 14, they finished 12th out of 29 starters.
Merlin Rockets
The National Championships at Whitstable lived up to their normal reputation. Variable winds, strong winds, big choppy sea, many capsizes and just a few broken masts from their having met the bottom of the Thames.
The racing was as tight as ever, with the last race being absolutely critical after Richard had won race 5. In the end Richard Whitworth & Sally Townend were just pipped for 1st place, finishing second overall. As leading lady, Sally took the Minima Trophy, whilst we will not embarass Richard by saying what other trophy he won.
David Winder & Pippa Taylor came 10th, whilst Julian Parry and Liese Scott unfortunately ended up 27th having lost their mast after a series of results in the top 15. With Matthew Winder finishing 29th, all the Hollingworth Lake boats finished in the top half of the fleet.
Despite the price of petrol and diesel, the top Merlin Rocket sailors from Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club have been travelling to the various Silver Tiller Open Meetings scattered across the country. They continue to notch up an impressive set of results.
Merlins should be sailed flat, David & Pippa
Except when roll-tacking, Richard and Sally
Pippa Taylor
Liese Scott
Northampton
Only just behind them Julian Parry and Liese Scott were 12th and Nick Heginbotham with Holly Scott came 14th.
Jen Taylor borrowed Dad's boat and with Anna Blake did well to come in 23rd in such windy races, whilst Bruce Deppe switched from sailing Solos and had to learn to cope with a crew and came in 42nd.
