48th Crewsaver 24 Hour Race at West Lancashire Yacht Club
by Mike Pickering 17 Sep 2014 14:08 BST
13-14 September 2014
At noon on Saturday 13th September, 64 sailing teams from all over the UK lined up to compete in the 2014 edition of the Crewsaver 24 Hour Race. Hosted by West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), the 24 Hour Race – now in its 48th year - sees teams of varying sizes race, non-stop, around a 2km triangular course on the Marine Lake in Southport for 24 hours
This year saw a light and shifty easterly wind plague the start. South Staffordshire Sailing Club A team (South Staffs), sailing a Lark, took an early lead in lap one. Stretching away from the pack, they enjoyed several laps of clear air before catching the back on the pack on flight 6.
As the afternoon progressed, the gradient breeze dropped as it battled with a conflicting light sea breeze. Spinnakers were being launched, only to be recovered seconds later as what little breeze there was danced around nearly every point of the compass. Ultimately, this played into the hands of the spinnaker-less Enterprise and Firefly teams allowing them to climb up the leader board. South Staffs (A) soon had West Lancashire Yacht Club (Ent), Enterprise Association, and Newcastle University biting at their heels.
As the sun set, the wind started to stabalise, producing a constant easterly breeze. Darkness brought disorientation to some teams as crews adapted to the unfamiliar conditions; but a strong Enterprise Association team used their 24 Hour Race experience to overtake South Staffs premier team.
When the sun rose, tired crews reported fair conditions on the water with South Staffs and Enterprise Association switching places many times throughout the night. With one hour to go, there was still no clear victor, with South Staffs only holding the Enterprise Association off the top of the podium by the slimmest of margins. As the amassed and crowd waiting for the final canon to fire, signaling the end of the race, Covenham Sailing Club's team managed to capsize outside the clubhouse, much to the delight – judging by the loud cheers – of everyone watching.
In the end, South Staff's lead – albeit a slim one – was too much for any team to challenge and they took home the Southport Centenary Trophy (Overall Winner) for the second consecutive year. However, Issac Marsh & Robin Jones from Scammonden Water SC stole the limelight by sailing the whole 24hrs with just the two of them raising money for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
"The 24 Hour Race continues to be a major event in the sailing calender. This year saw an increase in entry numbers with some Clubs sailing in the event for the first time. I must thank Crewsaver, as title sponsor, as well as GJW Insurance and Robinsons Brewery for their invaluable support." Ian Donaldson, Commodore – West Lancashire Yacht Club.
"South Staffordshire SC have supported the 24 Hour Race for many years. They consistently bring competitive teams and their second consecutive victory with their second team in 6th position has set down a challenge for competitors in next year's race." Ian Donaldson, Commodore – West Lancashire Yacht Club.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Team Name | Class | Number | Adjust | (mm:ss) |
|---|
| 1 | South Staffs S.C. (A) | Lark | 2529 | 65 | 22:35.3 |
| 2 | Enterprise Association | Enterprise | 23306 | 64 | 22:35.7 |
| 3 | West Lancashire Y.C. / Enterprise | Enterprise | 22310 | 63 | 22:59.5 |
| 4 | Budworth S.C. (A) | GP14 | Budworth A | 62.75 | 23:01.7 |
| 5 | Royal Windermere Y.C. (A) | GP14 | 14023 | 63 | 23:11.2 |
| 6 | South Staffs S.C. (B) | GP14 | 14 7 | 62 | 23:16.2 |
| 7 | West Lancashire Y.C. (GP14) | GP14 | 14150 | 62 | 23:23.1 |
| 8 | Bolton S.C. (A) | GP14 | 14123 | 62 | 23:31 |
| 9 | Midland S.C. (A) | GP14 | 14045 | 62 | 23:36.3 |
| 10 | Pilkington S.C. (A) | Enterprise | 23121 | 60.75 | 23:39.1 |
| 11 | Bassenthwaite S.C. | Enterprise | 23166 | 60 | 23:49.9 |
| 12 | Budworth S.C. (B) Masters | GP14 | Budworth B | 61 | 23:57 |
| 13 | West Oxfordshire S.C. (A) | Enterprise | WOSC 1 | 60 | 24:03.1 |
| 14 | Southport S.C. | GP14 | SSC | 60 | 24:03.3 |
| 15 | Derwent Reservoir S.C. (A) | GP14 | 14037 | 60.75 | 24:04.6 |
| 16 | Penzance/Mounts Bay S.C. | Lark | 2510 | 60 | 24:20.9 |
| 17 | Etherow Country Park S.C. | Enterprise | 22881 | 59 | 24:37.6 |
| 18 | Hoylake S.C. | Enterprise | 20860 | 59 | 24:39.5 |
| 19 | Red Wharf Bay S.C. | Enterprise | 221 | 58.75 | 24:39.5 |
| 20 | Chester S.& C.C. | Enterprise | 23050 | 58 | 24:46.1 |
| 21 | Toddbrook S.C. (GP) | GP14 | 14067 | 58 | 24:51.8 |
| 22 | Killington S.A. | Enterprise | 22405 | 58 | 24:53.8 |
| 23 | Burwain S.C. | Enterprise | 22499 | 57.75 | 24:54.6 |
| 24 | West Kirby S.C. / Firefly | Firefly | 411 | 56 | 24:55.1 |
| 25 | West Oxfordshire S.C. (B) | Firefly | 4115 | 56 | 24:57.7 |
| 26 | Midland S.C.(B) (Master) | Enterprise | 22901 | 57 | 25:09.9 |
| 27 | Toddbrook S.C. (B) | Enterprise | 22325 | 57 | 25:13.8 |
| 28 | Chase S.C. | GP14 | 13551 | 57.75 | 25:15.7 |
| 29 | Rudyard Lake S.C. | Enterprise | 23171 | 57 | 25:19.8 |
| 30 | Royal Windermere Y.C. (B) | GP14 | 13371 | 57 | 25:21.9 |
| 31 | Wigan S.C. | Enterprise | 22971 | 57 | 25:22.9 |
| 32 | Hollingworth Lake S.C. | GP14 | HLSC | 56.75 | 25:26 |
| 33 | Bolton S.C. (B) | GP14 | 13709 | 57 | 25:28.8 |
| 34 | West Kirby S.C. / Lark Masters | Lark | 2361 | 57.75 | 25:28.8 |
| 35 | University of London S.C. | Firefly | 3626 | 55 | 25:30.8 |
| 36 | Scammonden Water S.C. (B) | Firefly | 3764 | 54 | 25:35.7 |
| 37 | London Corinthian S.C. | Enterprise | 23309 | 56 | 25:37.6 |
| 38 | Newcastle University S.& Y.C. | Enterprise | 21792 | 55.75 | 25:41 |
| 39 | Scammonden Water S.C. (A) | Enterprise | 22447 | 56 | 25:55.2 |
| 40 | South Staffs S.C. (Masters) | GP14 | 141 | 56 | 25:55.7 |
| 41 | West Lancashire Y.C. / Firefly | Firefly | 4116 | 54 | 25:59.7 |
| 42 | Covenham S.C. | Enterprise | 21543 | 55 | 26:10.3 |
| 43 | Ulley S.C. | Enterprise | 22824 | 54.75 | 26:11.7 |
| 44 | Wessex S.C. | Firefly | 251 | 53 | 26:23.7 |
| 45 | Liverpool Y.C. (A) | Enterprise | 23383 | 54.5 | 26:39 |
| 46 | Jumbles S.C. | Enterprise | 22505 | 53.75 | 26:47.7 |
| 47 | Rotherham S.C. | Enterprise | RSC | 53.75 | 26:50.8 |
| 48 | Errwood S.C. (A) | Enterprise | 21092 | 53.75 | 26:57.9 |
| 49 | Derwent Reservoir S.C. (B) | GP14 | 13345 | 54 | 27:05.9 |
| 50 | Pilkington S.C. (B) | GP14 | 14137 | 53 | 27:17.8 |
| 51 | Midland S.C. (C) | GP14 | 13451 | 52.75 | 27:20.2 |
| 52 | Pilkington S.C. (C) | Enterprise | 690 | 52 | 27:33.3 |
| 53 | Budworth S.C. (C) | GP14 | Budworth C | 52 | 27:36.3 |
| 54 | Loughborough University S.C. | GP14 | 13388 | 52 | 27:39.5 |
| 55 | Liverpool Y.C. (B) | Enterprise | 643 | 51.75 | 27:42.1 |
| 56 | Aldridge S.C. | GP14 | 13944 | 52 | 27:55.9 |
| 57 | Errwood S.C. (B) Masters | Enterprise | 12483 | 51.25 | 27:59.8 |
| 58 | Lymington Town S.C. (A) | GP14 | 12159 | 51.5 | 28:01.8 |
| 59 | Bangor University S.C. | GP14 | 13515 | 51 | 28:28.1 |
| 60 | Lancaster University S.C. | Enterprise | 21101 | 50 | 28:55.4 |
| 61 | Strathclyde University S.C. | Firefly | 3344 | 48 | 29:01.7 |
| 62 | Rossendale Valley S.C. | Enterprise | 20606 | 48.75 | 29:51.1 |
| 63 | Lymington Town S.C. (B) | GP14 | 14089 | 48 | 30:03.6 |
| 64 | Sedbergh School | Lark | 252 | 48 | 30:14.5 |