West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series

Keith Roberts in his Sunbird during Race 1 of the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series as the high tide breaches the lake wall © Alan Jenkins

Liz Potter wins race 5 of the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series © Alan Jenkins

West Kirby Sailing Club had scheduled a six race series to be held on the marine lake, starting on Christmas Eve and finishing on New Year's Day.

The weather played along to start with and allowed the series to start on the 24th, with two very blustery races in Force 3-4. Five keen ILCAs and one Solo ventured out for the first race in the fast handicap, which involved a fair bit of capsizing and one retirement. The winning boat was a full rig ILCA helmed by James Douglas, with Ioannis Koutsokeras coming second under a radial rig. In the slow handicap, the Sunbird of Keith Roberts was the only one brave enough to venture out and claimed two firsts that day!

Race two in Fast Handicap favoured the smaller ILCA rig, as the wind increased throughout the short half-hour race. Ioannis bagged the win with James in second, followed by the Solo of Steve Ferrington.

Christmas day gave the sailors a brief respite, to revive themselves with good food and festive cheer, before the traditional Boxing Day Pursuit Race for all dinghy classes, on the lake once again. The weather Gods were clearly suffering a hangover and bout of very windy indigestion, as the 35 knot winds and cold conditions were enough to cause the racing to be cancelled. The next day was Bank Holiday Tuesday and two more races were scheduled. Once again, the racing had to be cancelled due to the howling winds, leaving one more race in the series for New Years Day.

Close racing in the fast handicap fleet during the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series - photo © Alan Jenkins

The Race Officer for this final race, which carries its own special prize, was the club President, Mr Peter Bramley. He is a man not to be messed with by weather Gods or Other, so he announced an extension of the series by adding an extra race on New Year's Day and a further two races in lieu of those missed on Tuesday 2nd January. The weather Gods slumped in their fireside chairs and had another large brandy. Collectively, they blew a protesting 20 knots at the lake for Races 3 and 4, which was enjoyed at different levels by the 7 participating dinghies. Some enjoyment was underwater and other enjoyment was only expressed in the boat park after the racing had finished.

James Douglas wins two races of the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series - photo © Alan Jenkins

For Race 3, ILCA7 sailor Jon Worthington was the winner, followed by Steve Jardine in an ILCA Radial. Race 4 saw James Douglas in first place again, followed by Jon in second.

The final day of the series dawned cool, but sunny with light winds. 14 dinghies raced in the fast handicap fleet, and 4 Illusions took part in the slow handicap fleet. The winner of Race 5 was Liz Potter in D-Zero "Zippy Zero" from Jon Worthington in his Laser. Stuart Dawson was 30 seconds behind him in 3rd place. In the Illusions, newcomer to the class Jean-Louis Simmons won, followed by David Pilling.

Lasers and Solo by Hilbre, still on the lake, during the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series - photo © Alan Jenkins

Race 6 involved a change in course for the slightly shifted South-Westerly breeze. It was won by Martin Hartley in his Solo, who was awarded the pre-designated "New Years Day" prize. In second place were Glen and Rosie Hughes in their newly re-purchased Albacore and third were the new promising talent of West Kirby juniors, George Creasy and David Bromilow in their 420. The Illusions were led home by David Pilling, with Peter Williams in second.

With a total of 26 boats competing in the series and 2 discounts to be awarded, the results were not immediately obvious!

Jon Worthington wins the West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Series - photo © Alan Jenkins

The overall winner of the Fast Handicap Christmas Series was Jon Worthington in Laser 218031, with Andrew Bell in Laser 115777 in second and Solo 5907 sailed by Steve Ferrington in third.

The Slow Handicap was won by Sunbird 219, sailed by Keith Roberts, followed by Illusions 139 David Pilling in second and Jean-Louis Simmons 141 in third.

Many thanks to Judith and Richard Stratton for Safety Boat, to Kay Eggleton for results and Peter Bramley and Adam Whittle for running the races.

Overall Results: