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Race Report – Welsh Area Championships

26th – 28th May 2007

Report by Wayne Atherton

Bala Sailing Club welcomed the Miracle fleet to join them on their Regatta weekend, to sail the Welsh Area Championships with 11 boats attending. There were 5 races (3 to count) held over the 3 days of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Race 1

With the first race starting at 1pm the light winds gave the OOD a hard time setting a good course but eventually the OOD won and the course was set. Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) and Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) headed out in front of the fleet chasing for pole position throughout the race, they swapped places several times during the course of the race but Peter & Steve eventually took 1st place after Wayne & Steve overshot a mark. They were closely followed by Dave & Jean Reed (3725) who worked hard to come through and get a well-earned 3rd.

Final places for Race 1

1st Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) - LLSC

2nd Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

3rd Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

4th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

5th Steve Coldicott & C Coldicott (4007) - Chelmarsh

Race 2

The start of the 2 nd race saw light winds again. First round the windward mark were Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) with Steve Coldicott & his granddaughter in 4007 hot on their heels. It was good to see some new faces at the front of the fleet with Wayne & Steve (3383) and Peter & Steve (3747) giving chase. The back markers were changing positions all through the race as did the front boats with Wayne & Steve (3383) eventually taking the lead only to be beaten by a couple of inches on the finish line by Peter & Steve (3747) who took 1 st place again.

Final places for Race 2

1st Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) - LLSC

2nd Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

3rd Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

4th Steve & C Hawkins (801) – South Cerney

5th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

Race 3

Day 3 saw the winds coming in a little stronger as well as torrential rain & freezing weather! Wayne & Steve (3383) took an early lead off the start line with Peter & Steve (3747) just behind them, they were followed closely behind by Steve in 4007 crewed by Mark Atherton who went around the windward mark in first place making Peter & Steve (3747) and Wayne & Steve (3383) work harder all the race with Martin & Carmela, who have improved considerably over the last 12 months, in hot pursuit. Wayne took the lead to win his first race in the event, followed by Steve & Mark (4007). Unfortunately, Peter Cuthbert had to retire from the race as his spinnaker pole snapped in half.

Final places for Race 3

1st Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

2nd Steve Coldicott & Mark Atherton (4007) - Chelmarsh

3rd Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

4th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

5th Steve & C Hawkins (801) – South Cerney

Race 4

The race started with Steve & Mark (4007) again pushing Wayne and Peter for the lead, which left the rest of the fleet battling it out for 4th place etc. Wayne & Steve (3383) took control of the race with Peter & Steve (3747) finishing 2nd and Steve & Mark (4007) took 3rd place closely followed by Dave & Jean (3725). This left Monday’s final race as the decider between Wayne Atherton & Peter Cuthbert.

Following the racing on Sunday, Tim Waring from Delph SC hosted a very enjoyable BBQ – the weather was perfect – it was pouring down!!! But in true Miracle style – the weather didn’t stop people from standing outside and enjoying the burgers and sausages – a good time was had by all and the keg of beer and bottles of wine were drank very dry indeed – leading to a few headaches the following morning!

Thanks again Tim & Co for a fantastic end to a days sailing!

Final places for Race 4

1st Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

2nd Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) - LLSC

3rd Steve Coldicott & Mark Atherton (4007) - Chelmarsh

4th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

5th Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

Race 5

Very similar wind to Sunday although it may have been a bit stronger at times! The race started at 11am and Wayne & Steve (3383) led the fleet from the start with Peter & Steve (3747) in 2nd and Steve & Mark (4007) in 3rd place. As the race went on Wayne & Steve (3383) pulled away with a comfortable lead to win their first Welsh Area Championships with Peter staying in 2nd place until he had spinnaker problems again and loosening his mainsheet put him in 3rd place with Steve & Mark (4007) eventually finishing the race in 2nd place.

Final places for Race 5

1st Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

2nd Steve Coldicott & Mark Atherton (4007) - Chelmarsh

3rd Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) - LLSC

4th Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

5th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

Final overall results

1st Wayne Atherton & Steve Wroe (3383) - LLSC

2nd Peter Cuthbert & Steve Hope (3747) - LLSC

3rd Steve Coldicott & Mark Atherton (4007) - Chelmarsh

4 th Dave & Jean Reed (3725) - Girton

5th Martin & Carmela Burgess (1204) – Thornton Steward

6th Steve Hawkins & C Hawkins (801) – South Cerney

7 th Paul Beckford & Leah Beckford (2462) - Delph

8th R Eaves & D Morgan (562) - Redditch

9th Tim Waring & Hanna Beckford (2772) - Delph

10th G Rawlinson & C Rawlinson (1137) – Sandwell Valley

11th G Pettitt – Snr & G Pettitt – Jnr (3252) - Bala