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Vaikobi 2024 December

Haydn Griffiths RNLI Memorial Trophy 2025 at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

by Richard Catchpole 1 Apr 15:27 BST 23 March 2025

Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club continues to honour the tragic loss of young Haydn Griffiths in his early season race day, also a fitting fundraiser for the RNLI. It continues to be a popular and significant day in the club's calendar. Usually, the weather cooperates for this weekend even at this time of year - after a dull start the sun came through with light to moderate winds.

The OOD team of Gareth and Jen Williams has to contend with a very light and shifty Race 1, but got racing under way in a mass start of the 46 competing boats. The key all day was to find clear wind early in the race and put some space between you and the pack, some achieved this more successfully than others. With 7 different classes in the top 10 it proved that handicap racing can be fair and tight and the trapezoidal courses chosen gave the most even chance of this.

A new pairing of Richard Catchpole and Ness Evans (LLSC) started the day in bright form, getting away but only clinching the victory by 4 seconds on handicap from the Wayfarer of Louise McKeand and Nigel Hall (LLSC). Chris and young Evie Pickles (Bassenthwaite) sailed their RS200 to third place, squeezing out Olly Blackburn.

Louise and Nigel took control in Race 2, outpacing the Hadron of Josh Hamer (LLSC). Chris and Evie got their noses out in front after some outhaul issues in Race 3, to claim victory over the Lasers of Olly and Howard Green (LLSC). Congratulations go to Louise and Nigel for winning out on the day in face of tough competition.

There were battles within the fleets on the start line and all over the racecourse during the day which made for a fine day's racing for all. It was great to see Haydn's mum and dad at the club as usual, and sister Megan had a great day's racing always with a smile on her face. A new arrival in the family meant that Brogan's visit was a quick one! Great to see them all again.

The event raised a new record of over £1000 for the RNLI, who were present on site all day to support this annual event. An excellent job was done by our President to coordinate the day as usual.

Overall Results:

PosClassSail NoHelmCrewClubR1 23/03R2 23/03R3 23/03Pts
1stWayfarer10747Louise MckeandNigel HallLLSC21‑43
2ndRS2001657Chris PicklesEvie PicklesBassenthwaite3(DNF)14
3rdILCA 7206876Oliver Blackburn LLSC‑4325
4thRS4001508Richard CatchpoleNess EvansLLSC15‑66
5thHadron H2159Josh Hamer LLSC72(DNC)9
6thRS2001003Matt SharmanOliver SharmanBassenthwaite58‑8.513
7thILCA 7221325Howard Green LLSC12‑16315
8thStreaker1942Steve Blackburn LLSC610(RAF)16
9thRS4001524Stuart HalmanAliLLSC‑119716
10thSolo5807Andy Carter LLSC(DNC)71118
11thWayfarer11211Dave SouthwellPhil WishartLLSC‑1361319
12thBlaze878Mark Cuthbert LLSC811‑1819
13thILCA 7223673Stuart Belfield LLSC‑15128.520.5
14thAlbacore8254Tim ColemanJason WaughLLSC(DNC)41721
15thRS4001306Harvey LeighJulian MecklenburgLLSC9‑151221
16thILCA 747Glyn Purnell LLSC17‑22522
17thOK97Oliver Davenport Redesmere‑16131023
18thEnterprise23351Ross SouthwellMichelle RainesLLSC‑231415.529.5
19thSolo4985Kim Cant LLSC‑24.5181432
20thILCA 7180672Bill Busby LLSC(DNC)171936
21stILCA 7213580Bruce Kirby LLSC‑292115.536.5
22ndRS Aero 7118Adam Catlow LLSC1028(DNC)38
23rdD‑One7Steve Dawson LLSC14‑242438
24thSolo5217Malcolm Waddington LLSC1920(DNC)39
25thDevoti D‑One108Tom Welz LLSC1823‑2541
26thILCA 6172527Ben Unwin LLSC22‑302042
27thDevoti D‑Zero134Nick Turpin LLSC24.5‑3122.547
28thRS Aero 74500Cathy Lunn LLSC2126.5(DNF)47.5
29thRS2001638Tom EllisJohn RansomLLSC20‑412949
30thSolo4283Michael Campbell Fidlers Ferry3119‑3750
31stSolo5120Andrew Roberts LLSC‑28252853
32ndRS Aero 72324Mike Baldwin LLSC27‑332653
33rdSolo5909Dave Kelsall LLSC‑3026.52753.5
34thRS100 8.4501Joe Hartigan LLSC35‑402156
35thILCA 7165217Mike Parker LLSC26‑393157
36thILCA 7204975Megan Griffiths LLSC‑403622.558.5
37thSolution456Martin Tubb LLSC3229(DNC)61
38thWayfarer10049Fred Duran LLSC(OCS)323062
39thStreaker1852Alastair Baker LLSC34‑383266
40thJavelin558David DoylePhil ShackletonGlossop‑41353368
41stRS8001225Liz WattonChris WilliamsLLSC‑38343468
42ndWayfarer10806Mike BarnesLaura BarnesLLSC3337(DNF)70
43rdPhantom1162Paul Long Blackpool & Fleetwood37‑433673
44thRS4001007Warwick WheatleyMark MorrisLLSC39‑423574
45thRS100 8.4503Martyn Catlow LLSC36(DNC)DNC83
46thRS200965HamiltonLongLLSC4244(DNC)86

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