Newsletter 04 06 25

Various events have caught up with me this week some of which overtook me which is a bit of a no, no ! 

It's alright planning things; it's those matters that haven't been planned that take up time and upset the plans…. if you get my drift.

And drifting has not been a problem this last week.  

The Sailing Week in Focus.

I  hope I am right in saying that a lot of folk were away on holiday this last week and that is why the turnouts have been well down. That and the weather; Thursday evenings racing was blown off so too, sadly, the second attempt at running the Mostyn Race on Saturday and Sundays lake racing (31/5/25) came close but four single handers ventured out in increasing winds to tackle both races. The gust numbers were up over 20kts which provided some good spectating moments ! Good on Alan Jenkins for providing the pics of the week. Andrew Potter won both races with Liz Potter taking a second in the first race and Andy Bell second in the second race.

 All photos by Alan Jenkins

Gybe Oh Andy Bell 

Andrew Potter Phantom

Liz Potter - Did she capsize?

Just going back to the Mostyn Race. Although it was called off on the Friday because of the adverse forecast the wind wasn't as bad as expected during the tide time but got up later. Neil Marsden and Olivia Creasy took the 420 out on the estuary and reported it wasn't even planing conditions. Could we have run the Mostyn Race? Obviously yes but it would have attracted a much smaller fleet and that isn't the idea of this race. We will look for another opportunity - maybe third time lucky !  

There was the Junior Fun Week Training, according to the Handbook. The feedback was entirely positive with a number of different instructors applying themselves to reinforcing the basics. The weather was mixed. Thursday was blown off in terms of sailing but David Bromilow invented a game during the lunch break - which apart from being good fun to play taught a lot about racing … rules and tactics. The sun came out on Friday - perfect for capsizing fun. 

David Bromilow's Game for Junior Fun Week

The Solos, Lasers, Illusions on Tuesday (27/5/25) night enjoyed moderate conditions but as I mentioned at the start, suffered from folk being away especially in the Lasers. Lee Matthews, Jon Haley, Gavin Roberts  taking the first three places in the first race and John Ralph, Simon Johnson and Gavin Roberts in the second race. Steve Ferrington scored to wins in the Solos from John Dixon and Bob Mosedale, second and third respectively. Peter Williams and David Pontin scored wins in the Illusions. No names, no pack drill but there are names who are missing from the results because those individuals give up their time, not just for one or two RO duties in the season, but for necessary meetings that eat into sailing time… we should all be grateful for their commitment…. just saying !

Whilst on the subject of Solos, Lasers and Illusions - permit me to jump to last nights racing (Tue 3/6/25); breeze up at the start from SW, gusty up to 18 kgs but easing off. I missed the start but judging by the expressions of sailors in the bar afterwards it was a bit of a shock to the system for some! Numbers recovering after the holiday week last week in the Lasers. Simon Johnson won both races from Tom Green and Gavin Roberts and from Tony Clark and Jonathan Behan in the second race.  John Dixon won the first race in the Solos and Bob Mosedale the second race.

Bob Mosedale and John Dixon

L to R Gavin Roberts, Tony Clark & Simon Johnson

Tony Clark

FALCONS

This one-design, 19 feet 3 inches overall length, was designed by Harry Dennis in the early 50s. The prototype hull was built by Tormentor Yacht Station yard  at Warsash on the Solent, finished by Sid Higgins boatyard in West Kirby (approximately now Kale Close, West Kirby).

The original class was called the Myth Class but because there was already a Myth Class at Treaddur Bay it was officially named 

The Liverpool Bay Falcon One Design Class … more next week. Thanks to Heather Tennant for all of this info.

Don't forget WEST KIRBY SC REGATTA Saturday 28th June 2025 - not long to go.

Tony Marston  Sailing Secretary