Liverpool Yacht Club Offshore Trophy Race
by Jim Connolly 20 Aug 2009 16:58 BST
The LYC Offshore Trophy race provided the most exhilarating and sustained breezy conditions from start to finish for those few yachtsmen who were fortunate enough to take part.
Severe wind forecast for Liverpool Bay may have been a contributing factor in the low turn out, however Race Officer Bob Nightingale, assisted by Jim Connolly, Chris Barrow , Allan Stanistreet, Jimmy Schnitter and young Lee aboard Gullmaren, set an imaginative and, to LYC yachtsmen, a novel course.
Ulula, Skukusa, Tango and Di-Rich lined up for the start of the 38.4 mile race and in a good westerly breeze headed off to the first mark only for Di-Rich to cross the line and retire.
Turning at Dingle and G3, a great sail down the length of the Mersey turned into a real test for our crews as they hurled into the channel proper at Brazil and had to brave the full blast of strong 25-30 mile hour westerly winds all the way up to Crosby Mid Mark and back to the relatively calmer waters of the Mersey.
Ulula returning from Crosby powered past Gullmaren, on station at Tower in less than two hours, followed some 40 minutes later by Skukusa and Tango. All crews having suffered huge waves across the decks and into the cockpits, and down the wellies! But showing signs as they went past of enjoying their day out. Well we took it to be that. So far the plan was working!
Onward and upward they sailed to E4, at low water! then round for the long downriver leg to the triangles at Tower, Egg and Canada. The breeze held as, after five hours, Ulula followed by Skukusa and Tango completed this section of the race in fine style and headed up river for the finish.
Ulula was first across the line in six hours nineteen minutes, followed by Skukusa in seven hours sixteen minutes and the dogged Tango in a magnificent six hours thirty one minutes. All three yachts had sailed great races but there has to be a winner which today was Tango, from Skukusa and Ulula.
Ulula’s result today ensured her winning the prestigious Littlewood’s Offshore Trophy, as overall leader in the Long Series: Di-Rich gaining second place and Tango third.
The race control team would like to thank those who made the effort to turn out for a memorable race and a pleasant LYC style get together on Gullmaren after.