The 7th North West Icicle Sunday
Sunday 25th March 2012 - Glasson Sailing Club
All photos by Austin Holden, taken from the Patrol Boat
Seven boats turned up for the racing but as one had left its rudder at home its crew volunteered to be the OOD. It was a glorious sunny day, is it our summer turning up early again?
Many thanks to Austin Holden - Patrol Boat and Robin Whitham - OOD .
The first race . Course: Ss – Bs – 18s – Ss. Three/Two laps
There was hardly any wind, what little there was had west in it - sea breeze? The forecast was SE F2.
Ian and Barbara were over the line and we suspected that they were just enjoying the ambience as they didn't return to start again. John was having difficulty with his rudder so he just seemed to drift upstream.
Beating to the windward mark on the first lap. The remaining four of us all got round the second Mark, B, Ian shooting into an early lead. Drama, the huge ship alongside the new quay was starting to leave its berth. Ivan was out of its way but just missed the mark - 18.
Michael was in midstream and sweating a little but as it turned out he drifted/sailed well clear but he too missed 18 as the others also did once the ship had passed. The wind was too weak to stem the tide so, as we all drifted towards Lancaster, Robin abandoned the race. Michael and the Martins accepted a tow back to the the wind patch in front of the Club. Ivan had made it back on his own as did Chris and Steve.
As there appeared to be a little wind on the Club side of the estuary Robin selected a 'sausage' course for the second race: Ss - Bs - Ss, three laps. The wind continued to be fickle and almost calm. Ivan managed two laps but the rest of us only managed one.
All photos by Austin Holden, taken from the Patrol Boat
Ivan Chris & Steve - the two Martins John Ian & Barbara
As it turned out today's racing didn't affect the outcome of the series.
Michael - going to sleep?
Michael was declared the overall winner of the series with the two Martins the first Crewed Boat.
The trophy was presented to Michael by the Vice-Commodore, Doug Gorton, afterwards in the clubhouse.
Austin took several photos from the Patrol Boat. These will appear here soon.