Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club celebrates 75 years

The Lake Sailing Club celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding on Saturday and Sunday (18 and 19 September).

Special races were held on Saturday to compete for the Founders' Plate followed by an evening meal in the clubhouse.

Two races were held with the 10 best results going forward to a final race to find the winner. This final race, sailed on a pursuit basis with the slowest boats starting first, takes 45 minutes. Whoever is in the lead at that time is the winner of the Founders' Plate.

With a fickle wind eventually settling in the south west, expertise was needed to work out the best way forward.

Richard and Heather Marsh in a RS400 were always likely to be ahead, with Martin and Rene Watts in a Merlin Rocket in contention.

However, it was the Solo boats that had the advantage on handicap, so Nick Hornsby won the first race with Martin Brennan in second place.

The wind was more consistent in direction for the second race and the two double-handers took advantage. Martin and Rene Watts showed good pace to win with Richard and Heather Marsh runners up.

Nick Hornsby sailed well to gain third place while Martin Brennan was beaten into fifth place by Chris Massey in his racy RS300.

For the final pursuit race, it was the Juniors' turn to show what Toppers could do, as sisters Lauren and Jessica Marsh raced off first and it was some time before the Solos and a Laser joined in and eventually overtook the Toppers.

With timed intervals, the other boats joined in hoping to catch up, and indeed it was going to be close to take the lead. As the final few minutes came it was the two Solos of Hornsby and Brennan that were ahead.

At the last mark, they were neck and neck and Brennan spotted the chance to gain the lead to win.

Richard and Heather Marsh came in third, with Heather winning a trophy for the leading lady. Les Burns, in a Laser Radial, was fourth, and Martin and Rene Watts were fifth.

Several of the club’s Junior sailors meanwhile were at the NW Topper Championship at Bolton where they again excelled.

Jasper Bramwell was first boy and second overall, Millie Hayfield was the leading girl in the 4.2 category, and Xavier Bramwell was first boy in the 4.2 category.