Liverpool Yacht Club and Tranmere Sailing Club Early Autumn Series - Day 4

Penultimate day of the Liverpool Yacht Club Early Autumn Series © Sam Kitteringham

The Liverpool Yacht Club and Tranmere Sailing Club Early Autumn series continued on Sunday 20th October with the penultimate race of this series attracting 16 yachts to the start line across three classes.

In a last-minute decision, accounting for a number of fishing vessels anchored on the Mersey hoping to catch the first Cod of their season, the Race Officer decided to start the Race at mark 'G3', downriver from the usual club start line.

3 courses were set for the separate classes all sharing a common start. The faster class one boats heading into the wind for 'G1', whilst the other 2 fleets headed for Dingle Buoy.

It is an unusual event in Liverpool to see boats start by beating upwind against the tide on the Mersey, this meant that the bustle for the start line was competitive with two class 2 boats creeping over the line ahead of time.

The class one boats started the procession to G1 led my Max Too (Prima 38) with the braver yachts hoisting spinnakers on a run that became tighter as they too rounded Dingle after the Class 2 and venture fleets. As the fleets headed to the Garston channel, Daydream Believer (Beneteau 34.7) broached a couple of times before joining everyone else in packing up the kite.

All three classes crossed the river after they rounded their relevant marks on the Garston side, before heading down wind to the Wirral under Spinnakers and then returning across the Mersey again. With wind speed dropping and the 8.24m tide due to change, the Race Officer shortened courses for all 3 classes.

Unfortunately, Shaula (Sunfast 37) had to retire at this point.

First home was the Venture fleets' Cry Havoc (Sunfast 37), gaining a 3rd on NHC handicap, Venture fleet entry May Bee (Westerly GK24) finished a little over 2 minutes later, getting a well-deserved 1st place on handicap. Aquaholic (Bavaria 30) split the two other boats on handicap. Rampage (Dufour Arpege) and Grand Slam (Westerly Typhoon) made the final positions.

In class 2, Skukusa (Impala 28) beat Trajan (Seawolf 30) to 1st place both on the water and on handicap by 53 seconds, as both boats have the same handicap. Jondo (Sigma 33) finished in 3rd place. Lady Dorothy (Hunter Horizon 30) bringing up the rear.

In class 1, First over the line was the Prima 38, Max 2, followed by Daydream Believer (Beneteau 347) and then Eazi Tiger (Corby29).

After handicaps were applied, Daydream Believer won the class followed by the equally rated Eazi Tiger. Max 2 took third place, followed by Finally (Elan 350) and la Republique (Archambault A31) to finish the days racing.

Sunday 27th October sees the last race in the early Autumn series with places to gain in all classes.