Results / Gul Grand Prix Royal Windermere YC - 21/04/2012

Round two of the Bolle sponsored Northern Tour took place over the weekend of 22/23rd April at Royal Windermere YC.

A good turnout of 18 boats came to the start line for the first race in very light and shifty conditions. Wayne and Deb Fletcher settled into the conditions and took a convincing win ahead of Paul Allen crewed by brother Mike, and Martin Cooper crewed by Alex Oyston.

Race two, sailed in similar testing conditions saw Allen take the honours followed by Fletcher and Hamish Gledhill, crewed by Simon Dowse, in third place.

The westerly breeze refused to play ball and downpours threatened most of the afternoon. 

Race three saw Fletcher back to winning ways while Cooper took second and Peter Snowdon, crewed by Pippa Fletcher, finished third.  

Race four was the real talking point in the evening. Starting in a  southwesterly breeze, which fell away to almost nothing, the wind then began to fill in from the northwest This left the fleet with two long fetches and a short run to the spreader mark! The race officer allowed the race to run it's full distance of three laps but Allen who was leading at the bottom gate and Snowdon, immediately behind him had lost count of the laps. These two boats started another lap while Fletcher calmly sailed for the line and a third win of the day. Dave Exley, crewed by Nigel Hall, and Gledhill also took advantage of the leaders mistake to take second and third respectively.

The usual excellent dinner was provided by the club on Saturday evening, and some folks went out on the town perhaps a little longer than they should have!    

Sunday morning dawned with bright sunshine but little breeze. The forecast was not looking good, just 7mph forecast. However, the race officer took the fleet out and, as they sailed out to the race area the breeze began to fill in from the north building steadily to a force 2.  

Race five again saw Team Fletcher romp away with Exley finishing second and Gledhill third.  

Race six again saw Fletcher take line honours with Cooper second and Caroline Exley, crewed by Jude Allen, taking third place.   A seventh race sequence was started but abandoned as the breeze died away to nothing.

Wayne thanked the club for it's excellent hospitality, and the race officer for his skill and persistence in some very testing conditions.