Notts County Sailing Club's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI

Pete Gray and Rich Pepperdine during Notts County's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI © David Eberlin

Notts County Sailing Club's traditional First of the Year took place on 1st January 2019, with all proceeds going to the RNLI, competitors were asked to donate in lieu of an entry fee and £550 was raised.

The wind was predicted to shift from South West to North East during the day, and of course it shifted at about the proposed start time, so William Jeffcote had to realign the course, luckily it wasn't too cold during the wait, though temperature dropped during the day especially when the sun went in. the first of the two handicap races was off with clean starts for Windsurfers, fast and slow handicap fleets, then the juniors in Toppers.

Just under sixty boats entered, including windsurfers and 14 juniors in both the main fleets and a junior start. Competitors were from local midlands clubs, with travellers from Staunton Harold, Carsington, Rudyard, Burton, Attenborough. The travellers winning the two dinghy fleets.

Launching at Notts County's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI - photo © David Eberlin

The fast fleet saw Kevin Hope & Andy Stewart from Notts County in a Fireball win the first race with Jamie Mawson in an RS600 second and Pete Gray from Staunton in a Scorpion third. However consistency paid off and a win by Peter Gray and Rich Pepperdine in the final race saw them win the fast fleet and the Goeff Parker Trophy. They were followed in the fast fleet by Tom Jeffcote & Tim Hartley (Hollowell 7 Notts) with Kevin & Andy third.

Start of fast fleet during Notts County's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI - photo © David Eberlin

The slow handicap saw Joe Scurrah from Carsington in his Laser stamp his authority on the fleet in both races, winning the Phil Davies Memorial Trophy with Tim Cripps and Amy Clay from Notts County coming in second in an laser 2000 with a second and third, in third place overall was Phil Kilburn from Notts County in a Solo. So the racing saw a good spread craft.

Reach during Notts County's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI - photo © David Eberlin

The Junior start saw Sam Grayton win with Hayden Moore second. The ten strong windsurfers saw Guy Sprekley take a clear victory with two firsts followed by junior Duncan Monaghan second from Ian Pilkington, all from Notts County Sailing Club

After much calculation and checking the results were put together and prize-giving was held.

Overall Results:

Prizewinners at Notts County's First of the Year Race 2019 in aid of the RNLI - photo © David Eberlin