Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Photo: Sam McGovern

Juniors racing

On a Sunday that started off overcast and drizzly a fleet of 14 boats turned up to race in conditions that improved throughout the day. With the wind picking up through the day, being at its strongest towards the end of the second race, leading to a few dropping out for the third race, the fleet got off for some extremely close racing.

With the wind blowing down the lake the fleet set off for the first race with Richard Marsh, crewed by Adam Din, fighting with Chris Massey, crewed by Alex Horsman, out front in the RS400s, but closely followed by Tom and Ryan in the Merlin-Rocket. Further behind Jacob Din was having fun learning how to sail an RS100, and the four Topper sailors having a day long tight race between them. Lauren Marsh in her Topper took the win.

Race two saw Richard and Adam get away to a commanding lead on the water, however an unusual error from Richard saw them sailing the wrong course! This gave Tom and Ryan the race win on handicap, but remarkably further back three of the Topper sailors managed a dead heat at the finish.

The third race saw a slightly reduced fleet, but no let up in the intensity of the racing. Adam McGovern, in his Mirror, crewed by Betsy managed to win with the RS400s and Merlins once again having a race long battle.

Three different race winners in three different classes and there only being four points between first overall and ninth overall meant the days podium was totally open until the last boat had finished. Lauren Marsh (Topper) won overall, Tom and Ryan (Merlin-Rocket) second and Xavier Bramwell (Topper) in third place overall.