Children flock to lake for endurance race

Competitors at Hollingworth Lake

Seventy-six children have taken part in the RYA OnBoard eight hour endurance race at Hollingworth Lake.

The children made up a total of 12 teams, including two teams from the Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre and one from the Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club as well as teams from Bolton, Salford, Glossop and Astbury, West Lancashire and Burwain.

The teams had to sail their Pico dinghy round and round Hollingworth Lake for a total of eight hours. Each lap took about 20 minutes and like a relay race, the teams had to decide their running order, and to work together to plan and carry out quick change overs when a new team member took their turn onboard.

The race started in a very light breeze, which built to medium winds by the end and it was Bolton Sailing Club who got the most out of the conditions to go one better than last year’s second place, by winning this year’s 8 Hour Endurance Race. The win came as a surprise, with the team modestly insisting they hadn’t expected to be anywhere near the front of the pack.

All the teams really enjoyed the event. Samantha Roberts of Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre, said: “I never thought sailing could be so much fun!”

RYA OnBoard Development Officer, Nathan Scarll, said: “It was fantastic to see the kids enjoying their sailing so much, and coming to this race in such numbers.”