Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Photo: Graham Knox

Second race start

Racing at Hollingworth Lake on Sunday 1 October, sailors competed for the annual Club Championship. In a series of three closely contested races, with all results to count, there were three different race winners and Mike Smith, in a Solo, came out champion.

The wind was generally light and shifty with the occasional rain shower, giving testing conditions. For a change, there were three Merlin Rockets racing preparing for their forthcoming open event for the Felucca Trophy in two week's time. The handicaps did not favour them in the results.

The fleet was always led round the course by the fast RS400 of Richard and Heather Marsh but the handicaps favoured the slower boats. In the first race, Mike Smith was the winner, ahead of Martin Brennan, also Solo. Matt McGovern was visiting and took out his brother’s Mirror dinghy, sailing with son Albie, and proved he still knew his way round the lake in third place, two seconds ahead of the Marshs.

The second race was won by Matt McGovern, with Mike Smith in runner up spot and Evan Parry, in a Laser, taking third place.

The last race suffered from a dying wind but not before Ryan Richards, sailing solo in a colourful RS Feva took the win, while Richard and Heather Marsh came in second ahead of Martin Brennan.

Over the weekend, Jasper Bramwell, with trapezing crew Olly Hateley, was racing in his second major 420 event at Rutland Water. He showed great promise with a 7th place in the first race.