Sailing: Close racing at Hollingworth Lake

Photo: Martin Watts

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

There was close racing at the Hollingworth Lake on Sunday as the light northerly air, off the Lake Bank shore, sometimes evaporated to nothing. This caused boats to bunch together as they rounded marks.

Nick Brook, in a Solo, took the lead in the first race ahead of Graham Booth, also in a Solo.

With six GP14s out, they were bound to figure in the results as Tom Daniel and Kevin Parry led the charge for a third place.

Martin and Rene Watts (Merlin Rocket) joined in the second race and their boat's quicker acceleration in gusts secured a clear lead, while Nick Brook was runner-up.

In the third race, there were some sudden shifts in the wind, one of which caught out Tom Daniel and Kevin Parry who capsized. However, they got back on board and returned to the race track and gained a place by one second, to finish sixth.

Others managed these shifts better and Martin Brennan, having borrowed a Streaker, showed his class to win ahead of the Watts. Colin Knott and Richard Long got clear of other GP14s to claim third place.

Six of the Club's Merlin Rockets are away to Salcombe for their annual visit for a week of racing on the tide in the estuary.

Over the weekend, Richard and Lauren Marsh were sailing on Ullswater in the annual races to commemorate Lord Birkett's saving of the lake for sport and recreation.

In an impressive fleet of 232 boats, they finished 14th overall, having won the first of the three races.