Five boats arrived at Windermere for the rescheduled Sonata Northern Championships on the 28 and 29th September at the Lake District Boat Club.
Saturday morning arrived with Lake Windermere like a mirror and no wind, so racing was abandoned until 12 noon to review the wind situation. Racing started at 1pm with back to back races in a light SWesterley wind in the south lake, with Jeff Houghton in Pay Off (LDBC) winning ahead of Paul Burnett (Penrith)and Phillip Johnstone in Dark and Stormy (Coniston Sailing Club).
LDBC provided excellent entertainment on saturday night in the form of a dinner and race night, where some crews managed to improve on their race performance for the day !!!
On sunday the SWesterley wind picked up a little with racing continuing in the south lake. In the 3rd race Tom White in Pizzicato made his journey from Southampton worthwhile winning ahead of Pay Off and Martin Hartley in A Sharp Exit in 3rd (SCYC). In the fourth and final race Paul Burnett managed to win ahead of Martin Hartley to finish first overall in the event. Racing was close throughout with all five boats featuring in the prize giving of cut glass and Kendal Mint Cake presented by the Commodore of LDBC Carole Shaw.
Val Kirk did a brilliant job as OD, coping well with Windermere’s interesting wind patterns, and was assisted by Colin Bragg and Gary Clark.
Overall results:
1. Paul Burnett – boat with no name
2. Jeff Houghton – Pay Off
3. Martin Hartley – A Sharp Exit
4. Phil Johnston – Dark & Stormy
5. Tom White – Pizzicato
Despite the low numbers, all participants had an extremely good time both on and off the water, and we look forward to returning to LDBC again.
Catherine Guy
A Sharp Exit