Congratualtions to the 6 hour race sailors today. The weather really threw everything at them today.
Sun rain and winds from 0 through to 25mph.
Feva 1 team with Joshua Aubrey and Anna Stonecliffe started well rounding the 1 st mark in third place, after 2 planning spinnakers reaches they were holding onto the leading boats, but the last 2 weeks intensive spinnaker practice paid off as both the lead boats failed to drop their spinnakers cleanly allowing us to catch up, A good second beat took us into 1st position. an hour later, and at the 1st change, we had dropped back into 2nd after losing a battle with a particularly strong gust 1 lap earlier. Billy Stonecliffe and Samuel Aubrey took over the mantle continuing to use the spinnaker whilst Hollingworth (1st place), chose to play it safe and not use their spinnaker, and after 1 lap we were leading. By 12.30 Joshua Aubrey and Mathew Knowles were in the boat and the wind had picked up to 20mph with 25mph gusts and they were planing without the spinnaker so they left it in the shute. By 2.30 and after the last rain squall came through the wind disappeared handing the advantage to Hollingworth lakes lighter team and local knowledge. By 3.30pm Hollingworth had reduced our lead to about 100 boat lengths and I decided to swap to a lighter pairing of Billy and Mathew. Unfortunately Hollingworth’s lighter weight and local knowledge allowed them to take the lead 3 laps before the end. Despite catching up on the 39th lap, some particulalry aggresive sailing and use of the rules, by Hollingworth meant they held onto the lead till the end. It was noted at the prize giving the excitement provided by the Feva 1 team flying the spinnaker through all but the worst weather and leading for 31 out of the 41 laps.
The Feva 2 team through out all this stood up to the conditions brilliantly, gaining valuable experience with Lucas Labbe and Emily Barrtholemew starting safely and completing the 1st lap in the top half of the fleet. Noah Kowah and Masie Tune continued the good work and by the 2nd change we were still in the top half of the fleet. At 12.40 Elizabeth Case and Emily Cottam took over but the by then the 20mph wind strong gusts meant they were thrown in at the deep end and following 3 particulalry viscious squalls capsized throwing Emily onto the boom hurting her back. Despite this and after some assistance the girls gritted their teeth and battled on. By 2 o clock the Feva 2 team was in 7th place but suffered in the lighter winds dropping back to 8th by the finish.
Pico team with probably an average sailing experience of Helms 1 1/2 years and Crews 6 months started with Hannah Case and Adriano Sucio (in his first ever race after starting sailing this year) started conservatively and rounded the 1st mark in about 13th position and soon settled into the gusty windy conditions. Dara Jenkins and Charlotte Mercer continued the battle, followed by Emma Begg (also in her first race) and Thomas Case and then Hannah Case and Thomas Knowles. by 2 o clock they were in 6th place, however the level of experience within the team meant they really suffered in the lighter winds, but battled through rain to finish 10th position, 3rd On Board Boat (beginners) and 1st on Board Pico.
Overall a great day and in very testing conditions you did Bolton Sailing club proud.
