Kielder Water Sailing Club May Open 2015

Luke Stewart during the Kielder Water Sailing Club May Open © Ian Dutton

Ben Russell during the Kielder Water Sailing Club May Open © Ian Dutton

Alec Mamwell and Ian Little, winners of the Kielder Water Sailing Club May Open © Ian Dutton

This took place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. It was a select affair, as the wet and windy weather forecast no doubt discouraged a few potential competitors, and in the event only eight boats braved the conditions on Saturday. Four races took place, with a single fleet – classed as "Fast Handicap" but including everything on the water – giving some interesting results. Alec Mamwell and Ian Little, in an Osprey, vied for first place with Ben Russell and Luke Stewart, in Optimists, with all three boats winning at least one race, and finishing on equal points so that the winner was determined on countback. Alec and Ian came out on top, with Ben second and Luke third.

Sunday's weather was so miserable that racing was cancelled.

Those who stayed over for the Dam to Dam (Round the Lake) race on Bank Holiday Monday were joined by a number of sailors from Kielder Yacht Club for this traditional race the entire length of the lake and back, a distance of well over ten miles. The weather was breezy from the south-west to start with, although the wind died away somewhat towards the top end of the lake, returning to speed the racers downwind again towards the eastern dam. The faster boats benefited from the stronger winds early on and outpaced the rest of the fleet not only in elapsed time but also on handicap, taking the first three places. Rob Shaw and Geoff Brown, of KWSC, came first in a Javelin, closely followed by Alec Mamwell and Ian Little in an Osprey, with Sam Thompson and Alison Davies third in their Merlin Rocket. Yours truly, in a Topper, enjoyed the novelty of racing on equal terms with some of the yachts, and a good time was had by all.

Many thanks to the race officers and all those who turned out to help on the water or in the galley, and equally to those who braved the weather and came to race.

May Open Results: (2nd May 2015)

1. Alec Mamwell and Ian Little, Coniston (Osprey)
2. Ben Russell, KWSC (Optimist)
3. Luke Stewart, KWSC (Optimist)
4. Richard Purdy, Sunderland YC (Laser)
5. Amy Holley and Jacqui Cowling, KWSC (Wayfarer)
6. Robert and Simon Leeming, Coquet YC (RS 400)
7. Oliver Murray, RMSC (Lightning 368)
8. Alec Vallance, KWSC (Supernova)

Round the Lake Results: (4th May 2015)