Mediterranean conditions visited the Lancashire moors for the final open meeting of the RYA North West Junior Traveller Series which took place at Bolton S C on Saturday 1st October. This was the culmination of the popular 10 meeting series sponsored by 1st Mark Chandlery with starts for Youth, Junior and Optimist fleets. The series attracted 111 boats to enter one or more events with some stalwarts managing to travel to all ten meetings, ranging from Bassenthwaite in North Cumbria to Nantwich in South Cheshire.

Force 2 to 4 winds and high temperatures provided some of the best sailing conditions experienced all year for the Bolton meeting. The youth class was dominated on the day by Reece Tomlinson of Fidlers Ferry S C hotly pursued by Kirk Knights of Elton S C with Buffy Dean, Leigh and Lowton S C as the first girl and third overall. All three were sailing Lasers. In the Junior fleet there was a real mix of boats. The Topper of Zac Gibbons (Redesmere S C) was on winning form with the Laser of Oliver Davenport 2nd (Leigh and Lowton) and the Hill brothers, Ben and Gabe in their Mirror 3rd (West Lancs Y C).

For the overall series in the youth class Reece Tomlinson became the first sailor from Fidlers Ferry to win a major trophy. His victory at Bolton on the final day gave him a single point lead over John Wingeat from Leigh and Lowton S C. with Andrew Price and Buffy Dean, both also from Leigh gaining 3rd and 4th respectively. All the youth prize winners were sailing Lasers.

The biggest of the three fleets in the series is the junior fleet with over 70 boats on the entry list. The eventual winner, showing great consistency over a variety of conditions, was Sam Clarke of Winsford Flash S C sailing a Laser Radial, winning by 3 points from the Topper of Zac Gibbons from Redesmere sailing club. Three more Laser radials occupied the next three places, Alan Dodd (Fidlers Ferry)Oliver Davenport (Redesmere) and Jonny Hoy (Nantwich) In sixth place came the first two man boat and first under 14 sailors in the form of Ben and Gabe Hill in their Mirror. (West Lancs Y C)

The small but perfectly formed Optimist fleet had been a 3 horse race all season. The eventual winner was Bobby Hewitt (Leigh and Lowton) with Matthew Leckie (Leigh and Lowton) and Lucy Knights (Elton) in second and third places.

At the end of the day there was an extensive prize table of quality goodies and trophies provided by 1st Mark Chandlery. Prizes were for the Bolton open, the 2011 series and a prize draw where each sailor gets an entry into the draw for every event they have travelled to away from their home club. Many children went home smiling, clutching some great prizes and for those that didn’t there will always be next year.

Full Results here

Photos from SailPics here

Fancy a day of fun on fabulous Bala Lake in Snowdonia

Enter one or more teams. 3-6 sailors per team.
All competitors must be 18 or under on the day.

Free DIY BBQ during the afternoon – You provide the meat – we provide everything else !
Free competitors T-shirts for entries received by 15th August

Spot Prizes and onshore activities

Entry Fee is £15.00 per team. Race starts at 11:00. Galley facilities also available.

Pre – Entry by 15th August required for a free T-shirt. Entry forms on www.balasc.org.uk

Event Supported by Jami Q’s and Slaters Garages, Abergele

Rights to Use Names & Likenesses
Competitors automatically grant to Bala Sailing Club without payment the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or filmed television of or relating to the event.

Champagne sailing conditions (and free toast and drinks) welcomed the twenty-nine visitors and thirteen home boats for the final North West Junior Travellers of 2010. Plenty of recent rainfall ensured the reservoir at Belmont was as full as it could be given the recent work on the spillway.

A Southerly force 2 was perfect for all ranges of ability entered in the event with some hotly contested positions for the final results of the year.

The first race for the Youths was won by Chris Wheeler, followed by Sam Hall then Andy Hunter. The thirty-five strong junior fleet was won by Kirk Knights, followed by Duncan Boyter then Cameron Wood. The optimists enjoyed a slightly shorter course with Bobby Hewitt winning, followed by Charlie Ewing, with Lucy Knights putting in a huge amount of effort to come third.

A fantastic lunch and slideshow kept the sailors and parents entertained until the second race where Chris Wheeler once again won the youth fleet, followed by Andy Hunter then Megan Griffiths. The junior race was won again by Kirk Knights, followed by Duncan Boyter and Cameron Wood. The Optimists finished with the same 1,2,3 as the first race of Bobby, Charlie and Lucy.

With all fleets results being decided after the first two races, only Sam Hall decided to venture out for the final race of the youths but it meant that different sailors in the junior class could have a go for a fleet win with John Wingeatt taking the victory from Sam Clarke and Alexander Davies. The Optimist race was won by Charlie and in an example of extreme sportsmanship Bobby followed Lucy around the racecourse to show her how it was done. Lucy came second followed by Bobby.

All agreed that it was a great days racing in almost perfect conditions.

Overall results were:

Youth

1^st Chris Wheeler (LLSC)
2^nd Sam Hall (Bassenthwaite)
3^rd Andy Hunter (Nantwich)

Junior

1^st Kirk Knights (LLSC)
2^nd Duncan Boyter (Jumbles)
3^rd John Wingeatt (LLSC)

Optimist

1^st Bobby Hewitt (LLSC)
2^nd Charlie Ewing (Dee)
3^rd Lucy Knights (LLSC)

1st Bolton Boat – Peter Makin (8th overall)

Following the Bolton prize giving there was the NWJTT raffle and overall prizes for the year. Thanks for all who attended and to all the members of Bolton SC who helped out on the day.

Pictures: SailPics.co.uk

Full results: here

In the first race there was a tight battle at the front of the fleet between Tony Critchley (Bolton) and Mike Gibson (Bartley). Whilst Tony led for most of the race an unforced error by Tony hitting a mark on the last lap let Mike take the lead and take first place with Tony in second and Richard Pakes (Haversham) in third.

After lunch the wind had dropped off to a F2. In the second race, the OOD decided to use almost all the marks on the lake which led to the entire fleet having close racing. Four boats managed to get away from the rest of the fleet with Andy Flitcroft (Bolton) and Tony Critchley together with Richard and Mike having a battle for the lead. The lead group was chased down by Ian Moodie (Bolton), however at the front Tony, Andy, Mike and Richard changed places several times with Mike eventually taking the lead and taking his second win of the day with Richard in second, Andy in Third and Tony in fourth place.

The third race was sailed in even lighter wind conditions and with a quick turnaround several boats were still on the beach as the OOD sounded the preparatory signal. By the time the third race started the wind had picked up a little and Mike, Richard, Tony and Phil East (Haversham) had a battle up the 1^st beat but Mike got ahead and led Richard, Tony and Phil around the course with the finishing positions staying the same.

Photos on SailPics.co.uk

Overall Results:

Gold Fleet

1st – 687 Mike Gibson (Bartley)
2nd – 666 Richard Pakes (Haversham Sc)
3rd – 525 Tony Critchley (Bolton SC)

Silver Fleet

1^st – 576 Helen Brittan (Bolton SC)
2^nd – 615 Jon Moreman (Craven)
3^rd – 696 Keith Roberts (Bolton SC)

Date: Saturday 18th September 2010

Time of Briefing: 11.00am Time of First Race: 11.30am

Total Races: 3 Races to Count: 2

Entry Fee: £8:00 Lunch: Hot food Available

Details: Refreshments will be available from the galley for breakfast and lunch.

The bar will be open after sailing.

Please contact Keith Roberts with your name and telephone number if you intend to sail.

Prizes: The prizes will be better than ever this year, so put this open event in your diary now!

For more info, alternative accommodation/camping, contact:

Keith Roberts (home) 01772 432254, (mob) 07866570586

Email: keith@sail.org.uk

+ For accommodation http://near.sail.org.uk/

Friday was the practice race followed by 2 points races. It was blowing top end of F4 with gusts at F6 and the wind would not behave, crawling around the compass. It was 2 hrs on the water before the practice race got started (and that was a general recall – certainly not the last of the day!) by which time 9 boats or their helms had had enough. After the practice race – which was one lap of the inverted “P” course favoured by the Supernova Class, it was down to business. At the end of a long day which finally saw the black flag outed – it was consistency all the way with Travellers Champ, Richard Pakes taking two bullets – showing some astonishing off wind speed, Multi-National Champ Mike Gibson despite a textbook port end start in race 2 finished with two 2nds, big wind specialist “Bruce” Howett with two 3rds and current National Champ and class builder Mark Hartley with two 4ths.

Day 2 dawned with slightly less wind (F4 and steady) and more sun, with the wind wanting to stay in one place. It was one on those days when you realised why you love dinghy sailing. It doesn’t get much better than this. A bigger fleet took to the water with some having carried out repairs overnight. For today the fleet behaved themselves and the black flag was not needed. Mike Gibson dominated race 3, with Richard Pakes never one to lead from the front grinding his way through the fleet to take 2nd. Race 4 saw Mark Hartley find his form, getting in front and staying in the boat in both of the remaining races. Paul Undrell showing some great upwind speed and some astute choices to take a well deserved 2nd. Mike Gibson recovered from a bizarre capsize at the windward mark to take 3rd. In race 5 the wind just dropped off a bit and light wind specialist Cliff Milliner took 2nd with Mike Gibson in 3rd again.

Everyone came off the water, tired and beaming with a tale to tell. Even some on the Masters and above were heard to utter the young persons word “awesome”. It was off the bar and to await Sailwave to pick out the bones from the days results. And it was Richard Pakes , still ahead of Mike Gibson on count back. As the results went up on the board so did the forecast for Sunday – and it looked grim.

Arriving on the prom Sunday morning there was a lot of white on the water. The further you looked out the whiter it got. The forecast had come true. There were scores still to be settled but Windguru had gone from green to orange and above. The decision to cancel was generally agreed to be right. People and boats stayed in one piece.

Thus the Supernova Nation Championship at last went to Richard Pakes a well deserved and popular winner. With Mike Gibson in 2nd and also 1st Master ( > 50) and Mark Hartley in 3rd. Silver fleet winner was class chairman Paul Earnshaw (8th), 1st veteran (> 60) was Richard Hartley (12th) and 1st lady was Lesley Jeanes (27th) just one point separating her from 2nd lady Helen Brittan.

Many thanks to Lllandudno SC who showed themselves to be a proper sailing club, with good organisation off the water, well drilled in getting on and off the water. Busy in the rescue boats and dogged and efficient in making sure that the the courses were superb. And of course hospitable and welcoming in the clubhouse. We all want to go back.

The Supernova MK2 has been a great boost for the class and there were concerns that its stiffness and self draining cockpit would set it apart from the MK1 – especially on the sea. Not so. The mix of results throughout the fleet showed that this class is still very much a one-design and has a great future.

Overall Results: