Windward / Leeward Open at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

Alan Bennett and Chris Etchells sailing into 3rd place at the Yorkshire Dales Windward Leeward open © Jane Lister

Jonathan Lister flies a hull in the gorgeous conditions at the Yorkshire Dales Windward Leeward open © Jane Lister

Champagne conditions and a perfect wind direction led to some great racing for the 22 boats from 6 clubs that visited the Yorkshire Dales for the Windward / Leeward event on the 8th of June.

Race Officer John Arran and his support team set a great course that covered the 1 mile length of the reservoir; after the first beat the races typically developed into a series of very close mini races with the 49ers and 800s battling at the front, followed by a tussle between the Vortexes, B14 and 29er, then a clutch of RS200s, Contender and Vareo.

The lovely F2-3 for the first race suited the faster trapeze boats with Jonathan Lister's Vortex narrowly beating Simon Evans / Stephen Cronshaw's 49er followed by Alan Bennett / Chris Etchells in another 49er and Keith / Hannah Escritt's 29er. The wind eased a little for race 2 and Lister again found some lucky pressure downwind; but the RS 200s were starting a comeback with Dave / Jane Hivey taking second, Jon Steward's Vortex 3'rd and Mike Saul / Meg Fletcher's RS 200 in 4'th.

After lunch the wind had eased a little more. Bennet / Etchells just found enough pressure on the first lap to pull out a big enough lead to take the race, but behind them the RS200s were now as fast or faster than the trapeze boats upwind, and could sail deeper downhill; early on the Hiveys had opened up a large gap, but on the last beat the Fletchers closed up and puth the Hiveys under pressure all the way to the line. RS200s took places 2 to 4 (Hiveys, Fletchers, Pickles / Westell), and 6 to 7, with just the Escritts' 29er interrupting the sequence in 5'th.

The Hiveys convincingly nailed the shifty first beat of race 4, successfully seeking out the bands of better pressure, leaving the rest of the 200s to tussle for the remaining places. This time the RS200s took the top 5 slots with Saul / Fletcher eventually winning the battle for 2'nd place followed closely by Pickles / Westell, the Fletchers and Andrew and Eve Hartley.

A fabulous day of wall to wall sunshine in the glorious Dales scenery with better than forecast breeze and some excellent competition - what a great way to spend a Sunday.

Overall Results: