GP14 open meeting at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club
by Steve Corbet 13 Jul 16:15 BST
6-7 July 2024
GP14 open meeting at Leigh-on-Sea © Steve Corbet
The GP14 Open meeting at Leigh on Sea was planned to be a four-race two-day event, but as the forecast for Saturday suggested that the wind speed would peak at 35mph during the race time it was decided on Friday evening to cancel racing on Saturday to avoid travellers a wasted journey. Three races were planned for Sunday as the wind was only forecast to peak at 25mph. On Saturday the wind actually peaked at 42mph with the River Thames looking very white with breaking waves.
On Sunday morning eight visiting GP14s and one club boat rigged and enjoyed the usual tea/coffee, bacon and sausage rolls while waiting for the tide to cover the mud to allow boats to be launched. To allow for a quick setting up of the course the RO decided to use the shore start/finish line, the start line being set to be as normal as possible to the wind.
Race 1 - as the start sequence started a very dark bank of clouds approached and the wind increased from mid 20's mph to a very brisk upper 30's, actually recorded as 42mph at the Essex YC. The wind was accompanied by heavy rain and hail, the visibility dropped to about 200m obscuring to windward mark and the leading support boat.
Most of the fleet weathered the squall with sails flapping, once the squall passed and racing was possible the fleet was lead to the windward mark by Steve Cooper / Liz Guest (14110) followed by Tomasz Szakola / Charlie Cotter (13237). As the wind moderated spinnakers were flown down the reach / run / reach legs of the round. On the second beat Maurice Cleal / John McGuiness (14292) moved into second place with Tomasz / Charlie dropping to 5th, Keith Street / Hannah Liptrot maintained third place.
Race 2 - with the sun now shining and the wind moderate the fleet were lead again by Steve Cooper with Adel Khan / Roger Jeffs (sail No 13) in second place, at the end of the first round Jamie Iles / Caro Mitchell (13299) were in third place. As the wind strengthened again several boats capsized, Maurice Cleal capsized with the spinnaker eventually he righted the boat but retired from the race and race 3.
Race 4 - another extreme squall moved to cover the racing area as the race started, the wind speed at Southend Pierhead was recorded as 53mph!!
Of the seven starters four managed to complete one round of the modified course. Steve Cooper lead until capsizing on the last leg, a very close finish saw Adel Khan beating Jamie Ilse by less than half a boat length, Steve Cooper recovered to finish third.
After a very extreme and exiting day for the GPs all, some with help from the support boats returned to the beach and the club house for a buffet tea including cake, scones, jam and cream followed by the Prize Giving. Despite the conditions most of the crews express their enjoyment of the day with a request for more of this next year!!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 14110 | Steve Cooper | Liz Guest | WHSC | 1 | 1 | ‑3 | 2 |
| 2nd | 13 | Adeel Khan | Roger Jeffs | WHSC | ‑4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3rd | 13299 | Jamie Iles | Caro Mitchell | | ‑6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 4th | 13164 | Quentin Drain | John O'sullivan | WHSC | ‑7 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 5th | 13787 | Keith Street | Hannah Liptrot | WHSC | 3 | 6 | (DNC) | 9 |
| 6th | 13237 | Tomasz Szakola | Charlie Cotter | WHSC | 5 | 5 | (DNC) | 10 |
| 7th | 14292 | Maurice Cleal | John McGinness | WHSC | 2 | (RET) | DNC | 15 |
| 8th | 13818 | Andy Shrimpton | Maria Kreena | WHSC | 8 | 7 | (DNC) | 15 |
| 9th | 3472 | Sarah Street | Lucy Street | WHSC | 9 | 8 | (DNC) | 17 |
| 10th | Wanderer 1076 | Phil Dowsett | Tim Wright | Leigh on Sea SC | 10 | 9 | (DNC) | 19 |
| 11th | 14179 | Steve Corbet | Liz Noblet | Leigh on Sea SC | (DNS) | DNC | DNC | 26 |