Morecambe & Heysham Yacht Club 70th Anniversary Regatta

32 boats attended MHYC's 70th anniversary handcap regatta, including 6 Lasers, 4 Ospreys, 3 Blaze's, and everything from a 49er to a Topper.

Saturdays racing was held in a F2-3. In race 1, the 49er of Stothart/Kilsey soon cleared the fleet to round the windward mark first. Close behing was the 59er of Fearnley/Spicer, and Osprey of Richard and Mark Hartley. Also well up were the Merlin of Howarth/Harvey, RS200 of Pickles/Westell, and Enterprise of Pilling/Boulsted. The wind was too light for the assymetrics to pull away, and first on handicap went to the Hartleys Osprey, followed by the Merlin, 59er, and RS200.

Race 2 was the 'cross bay classic' - 2 laps of an enormous course across beautiful Morecambe bay. The Hartleys Osprey squeezed infront of the on the 59er at the first mark. Third round, and one of the few to hold the kite for the leg across the bay was the Osprey of Manwell/Little. The 59er eventually overhauled the Hartleys, but on handicap the result ended with the same teams in the top 4 positions, another win for the Hartleys, followed by Merlin, 59er, and RS200.

Saturday night the club celebrated its anniversary by inviting old and current members to a social, with photos and paper cuttings of the club over its 70 years. Tradition was maintained, and the bar drunk dry.

Sunday saw 25-20knots of wind - the the OD wisely decided that it was too rough for the long awaited team relay pusuit race, and instead held 1 race in fabulous conditions, with full surfing downwind. The Hartleys did a horizon job, with the Osprey of Crichton/Audsley and Contender of Metcalfe hanging on second and 3rd on the water after the flying 59er broke its vang.

Mention must go the Laser sailors, with huge effort from Gibbison and Dexter in the wild conditions not returning much joy on handicap.

Everyone had a superb weekend. Although the Hartleys won every race, they were always just seconds in it from the Howarth/Harvey Merlin. Roll-on the 100th anniversary in 30 years!

Overall Results: