United Arab Emirates
Australia
Canada
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Ireland
United Arab Emirates
Australia
Canada
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Ireland

Contact us



Class Association

×

Results / Winter Championships Leigh & Lowton SC - 25/03/2023

RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK RS400 Winter Champs 2023 - sponsored by Rooster and TridentUK

RS400 Winter Championships 2023 sponsored by Trident UK and Rooster

Both the Rooster National Tour and the Trident UK Northern Tour kicked off in some style this weekend, in a combined event, with winds to test the fittest competitors.  16 boats braved a big wind forecast to take to the water for their first Open of the season, the Winter Championships at Leigh & Lowton SC.

The first race started in a westerly 18 knot breeze but built quickly to 20-25 knots.  The first windward mark and kite hoist saw many of the likely contenders taking a swim to start their day.  Blustery winds meant that picking your moment to gybe or drop was crucial, especially down the left bank where the wind was strongest.  Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman (Bassenthwaite) kept the mast above the water to stretch out a very healthy lead by the end, followed by Dave Exley and Nigel Hall (LLSC).  Sam Knight and Chris Bownes (Batley) fought back from their earlier capsize to take 3rd.

Races 2 & 3 followed a similar pattern to each other, still in very blustery conditions.  Sam and Chris scored 2 bullets to secure a slender overnight lead.  Meanwhile Dave and Nige had to undo a “spinnaker knot like you’ve never seen” to give up a race-winning lead in the final race of the day.  Chris and Matt continued their good form while Richard Catchpole and Gary Coop (LLSC) and Alex Alcock and Alastair Coates (LLSC) made it into the top 3 for a couple of races.

After a day of multiple capsizes across the fleet, the competitors were relieved to get some food down them from the galley and recharge at the bar.  Traditional LLSC games were held in the club lounge with the RS200 fleet and competitors were whittled down to a final few through a variety of energetic and technical challenges!  Unfortunately, the RS400 fleet were shown up by the RS200 sailors in the finals – they didn’t have racing the following day (that’s our excuse…).

As competitors rocked up the following morning, the reaction was much the same across the fleet when they saw 20 knots coming in from the other direction – another day of hiking in prospect on weary muscles!   

Despite the wind coming from a “steady ENE” direction the wind shifts were huge, some 20-40 degrees on occasions, making life difficult for Cathy Partington and her team, who set great courses once again.  This shifting wind resulted in some great close racing with multiple place changes on every lap throughout the fleet.  The wind abated as the day progressed with only 8-10 knots for the last race to give the competitors some rest!

All the event leaders had a shocker of a result sometime in the day with the changeable conditions.  Sam and Chris were best able to deal with the conditions and notch up two more wins on their way to clinching the Winter Championships.

Some new faces came to the front of the fleet, include Charlie and Caroline Exley (LLSC) and Hamish Gledhill and Ross Southwell (West Riding).  Chris and Matt clung onto a 5th place in the last race to clinch 2nd overall with Dave and Nigel’s 2nd in the last race securing them 3rd

A cracking season opener in sparkling conditions finished in bright sunshine and a light breeze, a far fetch from the start of the weekend.

TridentUK vouchers were drawn at the prizegiving – Mark Dingsdale and Ness Evans picked up £20, Fireman Sam and Geoff Edwards £15, and Steve Dawson and Nik James £10.  Thanks to TridentUK for their sponsorship again this year.

All photos by Dave Heaton – many thanks.

Richard Catchpole

Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, Entries: 16, Scoring system: Appendix A

Rank

SailNo

Club

Helm

Crew

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

Total

Nett

1st

1376

Bartley

Sam Knight

Chris Bownes

3.0

1.0

1.0

(6.0)

1.0

1.0

13.0

7.0

2nd

1453

Bassenthwaite

Chris Pickles

Matt Sharman

1.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

(10.0)

5.0

22.0

12.0

3rd

1460

LLSC

Dave Exley

Nigel Hall

2.0

2.0

5.0

(7.0)

2.0

2.0

20.0

13.0

4th

1511

West Riding

Hamish Gledhill

Ross Southwell

4.0

(6.0)

4.0

2.0

4.0

3.0

23.0

17.0

5th

1508

LLSC

Richard Catchpole

Gary Coop

(5.0)

4.0

3.0

5.0

5.0

4.0

26.0

21.0

6th

1369

LLSC

Alex Alcock

Alistair Coates

7.0

7.0

(8.0)

3.0

7.0

7.0

39.0

31.0

7th

854

LLSC

Fireman Sam

Geoff Edwards

6.0

5.0

(12.0)

4.0

11.0

6.0

44.0

32.0

8th

1363

Notts County Sc

Ross Ryan

Oliver Ryan Moore

9.0

9.0

6.0

8.0

8.0

(13.0)

53.0

40.0

9th

1461

LLSC

Charlie Exley

Caroline Exley

10.0

(15.0)

7.0

12.0

3.0

11.0

58.0

43.0

10th

1524

LLSC

Stuart Halman

Anna Walsh

11.0

8.0

9.0

(17.0 DNF)

6.0

9.0

60.0

43.0

11th

1396

LLSC

Mark Dingsdale

Ness Evans

8.0

10.0

(11.0)

10.0

9.0

8.0

56.0

45.0

12th

1467

LLSC

Martin Spencer

Paul Heath

(14.0)

11.0

10.0

9.0

13.0

10.0

67.0

53.0

13th

1191

LLSC

Louise Mckeand

Sean Ratcliffe

12.0

12.0

(14.0)

11.0

12.0

12.0

73.0

59.0

14th

1161

West Lancs

Chris Jones

Ewan McHenry

13.0

14.0

16.0

13.0

14.0

(17.0 DNC)

87.0

70.0

15th

1479

LLSC

Steve Dawson

Nik James

15.0

(16.0)

15.0

14.0

16.0

14.0

90.0

74.0

16th

1306

LLSC

Julian Mecklenburgh

Claudio Mecklenburgh

(17.0 DNF)

13.0

13.0

17.0 DNF

15.0

17.0 DNC

92.0

75.0

 
Privacy Policy | Developed and Supported by YorkSoft ltd