Huge well done to the “Bolton Pirates” at yesterday’s OnBoard 8 Hour Race at Hollingworth Lake.
The team consisted of James Shevelan-Hobbs, Peter Mackin, Alex Woods, Rebecca Kershaw and Amy Kershaw.
All the boats were Laser Pico’s, kindly lent by the Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre. The teams could decide whether to go for single, or double handed and Bolton opted for single handed.
James agreed to start the race at 10am, being the only member of the team to have competed in the event before. Lots of Friday and Sunday training slotted nicely in to place as James took up the the best place on the start line and by the first mark was 2nd, hot on the heels of the first place boat and pulling away from the rest of the pack. After three laps, Peter Mackin was in and battled past the boat from Jumbles/Salford to take the lead! Next in was Alex, followed by Amy and Rebecca.
The rest of the race was a continuous battle of skill and wind reading with the top spot being won and lost on each lap. Unfortunately, with Jumbles/Salford fielding one of the best Topper sailors in the North-West, it was a battle for the mainly new sailors from Bolton to keep the lead and at the end of the race Bolton were pipped to the first place having lead the race for much of the 8 hours.
With 20 boats on the water it was the biggest turn out for the event and the Bolton team finished a brilliant 2nd overall!
Two teams and first place next year?
Photos available at SailPics.
