Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Photo: Graham Knox

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Racing on Hollingworth Lake on Sunday 10 September, sailors competed for the annual Founders Plate. This consisted of two races to qualify for a final pursuit race, over an hour long, with the slowest boats starting first in a timed sequence.

The wind for the first race was light with the Toppers completing one lap only. However Richard and Heather Marsh in a RS400 sailed two laps fast enough on corrected time for the win. Young Jasper Bramwell (Topper) took the runner up spot, ahead of Stuart Bates and Emma Turner in a Merlin Rocket. There was a bit more wind for the second race which was won by Stuart Bates and Emma Turner with the Marsh pair taking the runner up place. In third place was Nick Hornsby in a Solo. An impressive performance, holding fourth place, was Jasper Bramwell with brother Xavier in a borrowed RS400, as this boat would normally be sailed by two adults.

The Pursuit Race started with the Toppers who set off in clear air, which they were likely to hold for a long time. In the closing minutes, Richard and Heather Marsh tried hard but Annabel Hayfield steered her Topper to win. In third place was Xavier Bramwell also in a Topper. Heather Marsh won the Trophy for the leading crew.

Several of the juniors had raced on Saturday at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for the North Travellers Series in Toppers. With 24 sailors racing, Millie Hayfield placed sixth. An excellent performance by our juniors.