Cheshire Constabulary Regatta,
Monday, 6th September, 2010
Winsford Flash Sailing Club

 
The annual Cheshire Constabulary Sailing Club Open Meeting took place at the Winsford Flash Sailing Club.

The forecast had been for high winds - and so it turned out. Nevertheless 10 boats turned out in the bright conditions. Although the prevailing wind was up and down the lake, there were twisting squalls continually blasting through making it tough for all.

So.. Race One - a 'boat' start from Buoy 3, going between the Inner & Outer marks to windward for each lap, then 7,6,1,4,3. The course made for a long beat with three gybe marks coming back down the Flash.
What with the difficulty of getting down to the start in the squalls, by the start, two boats were already done for. Mike Beresford & Dave Grimshaw, travelling for the first time, found themselves capsized with the mast stuck in the mud. By the time they had managed to get upright the main-sheet jamber had pull out of the hull and put paid to their day. Steve Tatton in his Supernova also missed the start in the conditions and called it a day. It was going to be tough sailing.
Dave Burroughs, sailing on home water with his regular crew got away well whilst the rest straggled their way across the start line. Halfway up the beat, who should be well ahead of the Radials but Rob Allen sitting comfortably and sailing a rig unseen in police sailing, until now - a Laser 4.7!
Slowly, the Phantoms made their way to the front of the fleet coping well in the conditions - Very well, considering they had spent the previous two days competing in a Phantom Open. By and large the race became a matter of survival with most of the fleet succumbing to capsizes at various spots around the course; nowhere was safe. The second Comet Trio with Jeff Stratford & Bob Lowrie hurtled round the course but eventually suffered the fate of getting the mast stuck. By the end of the race, a number of sail tops were covered in mud. There were however, six finishers who managed not to be 'rescued' or lose race points. The last finisher, Paul Welsh managed 2 laps to the Phantoms 4 after spending a large amount of the time perched on the hull's edge whilst the wind, catching the underside of the hull, sent him gently back down wind.

After a long lunch, Race Two. Same start but a slight change in the course - 8,6,1,4,3. Just six boats started.
The Phantoms were soon well ahead with others falling by the wayside to give them a clear lead. Conditions were similar to the first race and it was rare to see any mainsheets hauled in tight on the beats due to the wind liable to catch you out with little warning. The capsizes were numerous. Helms endeavoured to ignore the attractions of receiving outside assistance from the Rescue boats and struggle on. This resulted in the crew of the GP14, caught out at a gybe mark, being immersed in the water for over 15 minutes whilst trying to free the mast from the lake bottom. In the end they gave up. Frank Lafferty in a Radial, new to police sailing, must have capsized over 15 times before giving up and being rescued.
There were three finishers; the two Phantoms and the Laser Vago using just the mainsail but carrying a 'secret weapon' throughout the day - a buoyancy bag tied to the top of his mast - thus preventing the Vago's total capsize and a dirty sail. Despite capsizing continually throughout the racing, the plan paid off, giving Paul a well earned third place overall.

The Race Officer, Phil Duggan abandoned Race Three..

Prizes were presented by the Vice Commodore of Winsford Flash Sailing Club, Sheila Sowley.

Regatta Organiser:

PC Rob Allen
Air Support Unit
International House
Aviation Park
Flint Road
Saltney Ferry
Chester
CH4 0GZ
Switchboard 0845 458 0000
Email: robert.allen@cheshire.pnn.police.uk