GP14 Open Report
The latest round of the GP14 Midland Bell championship took place against the picturesque backdrop of the Severn Valley at Trimpley Sailing Club.
June 10th saw a healthy 14 boats take to the water in light, fluky winds, including 5 visiting friends from Nantwich & Borders and Midland sailing clubs. As usual, three hour-long races were run with results from 2 to count.
Winds held up well in the first race, rewarding the good spinnaker work on display. Result: Mark McKeever/Kevin Hopkins first (Midland S.C.), Chris Martin/Matt Smith second (Midland S.C) and Peter Thoms/Dawn Frost third (Nantwich & Borders S.C.).
Following lunch and the passage of a flight of Tiger Moths on their way to Cosford airshow, the race officer Ian Davies got the second race underway: Mark and Kevin took a strong lead in the first lap and held onto it through to the end. Result: Mark McKeever/Kevin Hopkins (Midland S.C.) first, Chris Martin/Matt Smith (Midland S.C) second, Simon Fletcher/John Cookson (Trimpley S.C.) third. Special mention should go to junior helm Joe Bellingham (crewed by Richard Binns – Nantwich & Borders SC) in securing 4th place after gaining 3 places by capitalising on an opportunity at the last mark.
With two first place results, Mark and Kevin retired for the third race in which the wind, having filled in nicely for the start dropped way to almost nothing by the end. Result: Chris Martin/Matt Smith (Midland S.C.) first, Peter Thoms/Dawn Frost (Nantwich & Borders S.C.) second, Simon Fletcher/John Cookson (Trimpley S.C.) third.
The commodore Neil Spokes thanked everyone for attending and awarded the prizes:
- First: Mark McKeever / Kevin Hopkins
- Second: Chris Martin / Matt Smith
- Third: Peter Thoms / Dawn Frost
- Junior helm: Joe Bellingham
- Junior crew: Jonathan Lane