Morecambe & Heysham Yacht Club
This incomplete set of race reports for 2007
were composed by Phil Chandler and Dave Kelsall, originally as press releases.
Thanks, as ever, to the Morecambe Visitor and Lancaster Guardian for their
continuing support in publishing these.
Sunday 25th November 2007 – Final Fling!
Although the official sailing season at Morecambe and Heysham Yacht club finished back in mid-October, the Bay is too good a place for sailing to stay away from it for long. Also the club has recently seen a strong growth in interest in sailing the single handed, Olympic class, Laser dinghies, which the club now has four of for members' use, as well as a number of members' own boats. So it was that Sunday saw nine skippers and six boats turn out for three hours of Laser-only action in the Bay. The forecast heavy rain and gale force winds never materialised, and the pace was fast and furious, with a series of seven quick-fire one lap races. The experience of the skippers ranged from novice to expert and the format provided excellent opportunities to practice and learn new skills. If you messed up on one race, then never mind, you could try something different on the next one. The short races also meant that even the novices had chances to beat the old hands now and again. Almost everyone took turns in the safety boat, allowing each skipper to take part in a number of races, and every contest was hard fought, albeit with the usual good humour that characterises the club sailing. In the end the overall victor was Mark Dexter, with Keith Byers second and John Gibbison third. Thanks go out to everyone who took part in a very enjoyable event, including Dave Kelsall, Nigel Broadbent, Tony Rackham, John Hodgson, Phil Chandler, James Donnell and Diane Sylvester. More pictures are available in the photo gallery.
Sunday 30th September 2007
The Bay was looking fantastic in the sunshine on
Sunday, which all the crews had time to notice during the Walter Bell cross-bay
race as the pace varied between slow to dead stop in the light and variable
winds. Nevertheless all conditions bring their challenges and in this case it
was those who could make use of even the slightest gust and variation in tidal
currents that triumphed.
Due to the conditions Keith Byers, officer of the day, decided to shorten the
race to one lap, and follow up with a couple of short, tactical inshore races.
This produced some exciting, close sailing, with placings and fortunes changing
throughout.
The open nature of the racing can be seen by comparing the first and last
positions of the two short races, with Nigel Broadbent in the Solo and the
Rackhams' father and son team in the
Dave Kelsall and John Gibbison continued their Laser rivalry, crossing the line
in the second race less than a boat length apart, with Jammy John taking the
honours overall this week.
Results:
Walter Bell Cross-bay
1.= J Gibbison Laser
1.= T Rackham/S Rackham
3. D Kelsall Laser
4. P
5. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
6. P Shelling Dart 15
7.
Race 2
1. N Broadbent Solo
2. D Kelsall Laser
3.= D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
3.= J Gibbison Laser
5. P
6. T Rackham/S Rackham
Race 3
1.= T Rackham/S Rackham
1.= J Gibbison Laser
3. D Kelsall Laser
4. P
5. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
Rtd N Broadbent Solo
Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th - see 07 OPEN Weekend
results via the link on the left of your screen
9th September
It was meant to be an early start for Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club on
Sunday, with racing timed to begin at 09.00. Unfortunately the tide had other
ideas, and racing didn't get under way until nearer 09.45 when there was
finally sufficient water to launch the safety boat.
There was a strong showing from the ever growing
Laser fleet, with six boats on the water, including two that the club has
recently purchased for the use of club members. Also joining the fray were two
other regulars, the Vago and the Solo.
The racing started in very light winds and sunny
conditions, testing the sailors' knowledge of Bay's tides and currents. The
conditions particularly suited David Edwards and Diane Sylvester in the Vago
who could make good use of extra power of the spinnaker. Nigel Broadbent in the
Solo also had a fine result, coming in second. Amongst the Lasers the close
rivalry between John Gibbison, Dave Kelsall and Tony Rackham produced an
exciting tussle for third, with Tony taking the honours in the first race, ahead
of John and Dave who crossed the line only one second apart.
The sun disappeared and the wind picked up
significantly for the second race, in which once again Tony, John and Dave
where closely matched. Dave lost the pace after a mistake while gybing round
the final buoy, but John and Tony engaged in an exciting duel, beating up to
the finish line, at times the boats almost touching. In the end it was Tony who
took the race, with John crossing the line two seconds behind.
Race 1
1. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
2. N Broadbent Solo
3. T Rackham Laser
4. D Kelsall Laser
5. J Gibbison Laser
6. R Simpson Laser
7. S Rackham Laser
8. P
Race 2
1. T Rackham Laser
2. J Gibbison Laser
3. N Broadbent Solo
4. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
5. D Kelsall Laser
6. S Rackham Laser
7. P Chandler Laser
p Special thanks to Keith Byers (Officer of the Day) and Richard York (Safety
Boat). Next weekend, September 15th/16th sees M&HYC play host to other
local (and not so local) sailing clubs at their Open Weekend. All dinghy
sailors interested in racing are welcome, details are on the website at
www.mhyc.co.uk
1st - 2nd September Full
report and photos from Glasson SC
This weekend Glasson Sailing Club played host to a large fleet of sailing
dinghies from across the Northwest - with boats attending from as far afield as
Overall results for the weekend:
1. Nick Miller, Blaze,
2. Mark Bamber, Blaze,
3. Keith Byers, OK, Morecambe & Heysham YC
4. Steve & Peter Jones, Fireball, Blackpool & Fleetwood YC
Joint 5th John Gibbinson & Dave Kelsall, Laser, Morecambe & Heysham YC
The second round of this exciting local derby is set
to take place from the Morecambe town hall slipway on the weekend of the 15th
and 16th September, when M&HYC plays host. First race 12.00 on the Saturday
- all competitors and spectators welcome!
19th August
Last weekend saw Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club's
final taster weekend of the year, when local people get a chance to find out
what it's like to work with the wind and tides to cruise the Bay. Twelve new
sailors took to the water over the two days and the club was very pleased to
give Geraldine Smith MP her first experience of sailing on the Bay.
Ms Smith said of her trip out, "It was a
fantastic experience to be out in the bay under sail, and a very pleasurable
surprise to find out how little it cost to be a member of Morecambe and Heysham
Yacht club, and to get involved with the sailing. I think the club is a terrific
facility for the town, and I hope more people take the opportunity to get
involved".
Sunday saw those attending the taster weekend joined
by club members out on the water. Unfortunately the racing had to be abandoned
after one of the marker buoys broke loose and headed off down towards Heysham!
Nevertheless some exiting sailing was had in winds gusting up to force 5
(19-24mph).
A special thanks for all those who worked hard to
make the weekend a success: the instructors - John Hodgson, Dave Wood, Keith
Byers; the safety boat crews - James Donnell, Andrew and Julie Watson, and
those involved in the overall organisation of the event - John Gibbison, Sue
Byers, Anita Corless.
Although it was the last taster weekend for this year
anyone interested is still very welcome to get involved, there are plenty of
sailing weekends left in the season. One good way is to come down to the club
house on
12th August
This year's topsy-turvey Summer struck again on
Sunday morning - it was raining so hard before the race started that it looked
like the flagstones would break with no wind to speak of. An hour later the sun
was out and a steady Force 4 wind was blowing, with white horses breaking over
the sandbanks.
John Hodgson, as race officer, set a very demanding
course with no less than three gybe marks. Phil's Dart catamaran was off to a
flying start, closely followed by David and Diane in the Vago and Nigel in the
solo. Andy was unable to get away due to technical problems. Everyone got round
the course in near record time, but the race was unfortunately declared void as
no-one had sailed the correct course, due to a misunderstanding.
Dave handed over the safety boat to Andy just before the second race, which he
started in pole position. The rough conditions took their toll with David and
Diane capsizing just after the gybe mark - allowing Dave to slip ahead, with
Nigel close behind. The Vago and Laser were involved in some very close
quarters racing as Dave used his weight and the Laser's manoeverability to
advantage around the gybe marks. Phil finished on the water a good 9 minutes
ahead of the slower-handicapped Vago, which overtook Dave on the final downwind
leg, closely followed by Nigel who sailed a flawless race. The closeness of the
racing was reflected in the fact that only 23 seconds separated second and
third places.
Results:
1. Dave Kelsall - Laser
2. Nigel Broadbent - Solo
3. David Edwards/Diane Sylvester - Vago
4. Phil Shelling - Dart 15
Safety Boat; Andy Wilson/Dave Kelsall
5th August 2007
Sunday afternoon's race started well with ideal
conditions - sunny weather and a light but steady breeze - but a depleted turn
out.
First away was John Gibbison, closely followed by Nigel Broadbent, Ross
Simpson, John and Hayley Hodgson - with Dave Kelsall belatedly bringing up the
rear testing out one of the club's training boats (another Laser).
As the boats rounded the second buoy the wind dropped away and the temperatures
started to soar. John Gibbison rounded the third mark 50 yards ahead of Dave
and Nigel, just as the wind dropped and the tide started to turn. Half an hour
later, John had finished the race and the other boats literally hadn't moved an
inch (apart from Dave's which surreally capsized for no apparent reason - he
denied that he fell asleep in the sun!) and they abandoned the race.
Results:
1. John Gibbison (Laser)
DNF. Nigel Broadbent (Solo)
DNF. Dave Kelsall (Laser)
DNF. Ross Simpson (Laser)
DNF. John and Hayley Hodgson (Miracle)
Race Officer - Jock Steedman
Safety boat - Mark Dexter
29th July 2007
Sunday morning brought with it sunny weather and a
very clear view across the Bay of the
The two Daves (Kelsall and Edwards) were first away,
with the faster Vago first to round the buoy near the Stone Jetty ahead of the
Laser - pursued by Ross, John, Nigel and Dave (French) all fiercely contending
third place on the water. High waves and gusty conditions made for a very
exciting broad reach from the Stone Jetty to the
Results
1. Dave Edwards/Diane Sylvester - Vago
2. Dave Kelsall - Laser
3. John and Hayley Hodgson - Miracle
4. Nigel Broadbent - Solo
5. Dave French/Kath Pollard - Fireball & Ross Simpson - Laser.
Thanks go to Richard York and the Lunesdale Divers
for providing Safety Boat cover.
See www.mhyc.co.uk for details of the final free sailing "taster"
days of 2007 on 18th and 19th August - supported by the Poulton Neighbourhood
Partnership initiative.
16th July 2007
No matter what is planned, it is the weather that decides what happens in
sailing. So it was that the light winds on Sunday morning meant that the
scheduled Nick Riden Cross-bay race was replaced with a series of short,
tactical races in the stretch between the Race Office and the Stone Jetty.
The variability of the wind, sometimes swinging through 180 degrees in a few
seconds then dying away, dominated the races and made for fascinating struggles
with the placings changing right up to the last minute. Dave Kelsall at last
had some serious competition in the Laser fleet, with John Gibbison and Ross
Simpson both having a good session. In the second race the result was decided
simply by who reacted fasted to a single wind shift. Of the other boats out,
Nigel Broadbent in the Solo gave the Lasers a good run for their money, taking
a third and second.
The fast catamarans stayed ashore this week, their
skippers being busy elsewhere; Phil Shelling as officer of the day, running the
races, and Hugh Reid providing support in the safety boat.
Race 1
1. J Gibbison Laser
2. R Simpson Laser
3. N Broadbent Solo
4. D Kelsall Laser
5. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
Race 2 1. J Gibbison Laser
2. N Broadbent Solo
3. R Simpson Laser
4. D Kelsall Laser
5. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
6. P
8th July 2007
For once this wet and dismal Summer, sunny weather
and steady winds produced some excellent sailing in the late afternoon.
Welcome visitors in a National 12 were Mark and Kiera, who normally sail at
Race Officer Nigel Broadbent set a course using a buoy dropped inside the Stone
Jetty, resulting in the fleet sailing very close to the beach, to the delight
of many tourists. Phil Preston's early lead in the Dart catamaran was never
threatened by the monohull's. The laser fleet were close together until the
second lap when Dave Kelsall pulled away from John and Ross on the reach in a
strengthening wind - though none of them managed to catch Mark and Kiera! Chris
raced home with great style in the Musto.
Race 2 was an all-Laser affair with Dave taking an
early lead, followed by John and Ross - places which were unchanged at the finish
line, after an hour of very fast sailing against a strong ebb tide.
Results:-
Race 1
1. Phil Preston (Dart)
2. Dave Kelsall (Laser)
3. John Gibbison (Laser)
4. Ross Simpson (Laser)
5. Chris Spicer (Musto)
Race 2
1. Dave Kelsall (Laser)
2. John Gibbison (Laser)
3. Ross Simpson (Laser)
The safety boat was manned by James Donnell and Chris Fisher.
1st July 2007.
With only five boats out Sunday's meeting was one of the smallest of the season
so far, however as it turned out the main competition was not against each
other but against the ever changing weather.
During the first race the constantly shifting, gusty wind meant there were
plenty of capsizes, and two retirements.
Dave Kelsall, Phil Shelling and Nigel Broadbent managed to keep going with Dave
taking the honours.
In the break the first of the torrential downpours
came through, but after it had passed the wind dropped and the choppy
conditions had eased.
Four boats headed out again for the second, shorter
race. About half way through the second squall hit. You can hear the rain
coming some way off as it sweeps across the water. Visibility fell to a hundred
yards or so and this time the wind came with the rain. For the next five
minutes those on the water experienced some very exciting sailing with a
dramatic backdrop of the stormy skies over the bay. Three boats managed to
finish the race, in sunshine!
It is one of the privileges of sailing on the bay to
experience its many moods, and it's made possible by the close support of those
who crew the safety boat. A special thanks to Martin Brewitt who stayed out in
some very wet conditions to look out for everyone, and to James Donnell. Also
many thanks to Mark Dexter who was officer of the day and organised the races.
Results
Race 1
1. D Kelsall Laser
2. P Shelling Dart 15
3. N Broadbent Solo
Retired: D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
P Chandler Laser
Race 2
1. D Kelsall Laser
2. N Broadbent Solo
3. P
Retired:
P Shelling Dart 15
17th June 2007
The regular club fixture produced another week of hard fought races. Dave
Kelsall maintained his dominance of the season, although this week a number of
his closest rivals were involved in the taster weekend.
Race 1
1. D Kelsall (Laser)
2.
3. R Simpson (Laser Radial)
4. H Reid (Dart 15)
5. P Shelling (Dart 15)
6. T Rackham (
Race 2
1. D Kelsall (Laser)
2. R Simpson (Laser Radial)
3.
4. T Rackham (
Thanks to Chris Dexter as Officer of the Day and
Graham Liddy in the safety boat.
20th May 2007
Sunday May 20th saw a strong field competing in beautiful sunshine for this
year's
In stark contrast to the previous day, the winds were light and variable,
however the wide variety of boats taking part made for an interesting and hard
fought contest.
The final standing was:
1. N Broadbent Solo
2. D Edwards/D Sylvester Vago
3. T Rackham/S Rackham
4. D Kelsall Laser
5. Dave Marsh Tres
6. P Long Rooster 81
7. C Spicer Musto
8. P Chandler/B Atack Wayfarer
A special thanks to Mark Dexter (Officer of the Day) and James Donnell and
Chris (Safety Boat).
29th April 2007
Sunday 29th April saw an early start to racing out on
There were two races on the day and the open nature of the competition can
clearly be seen from the fact that the winner of the first race came last in
the second.
As always there was an exciting battle being fought at the front by those
sailing the single-handed Lasers, with Dave Kelsall managing to hold off John
Gibbison's challenge in both races. Unfortunately Tony Rackham wasn't able to
repeat his success of the previous week, finding the windier conditions
difficult.
The full results were:
Race 1
Postn. Crew Boat
1. H Reid Dart 15
2. D Kelsall Laser
3. P Shelling Dart 15
4. J Gibbison Laser
5. J Hodgeson/P
6. N Broadbent Solo
7. R Simpson/C Fisher Wayfarer
8. T Rackham Laser
Race 2
1. D Kelsall Laser
2. J Gibbison Laser
3. N Broadbent Solo
4. P Shelling Dart 15
5. J Hodgeson/P
6. T Rackham Laser
7. H Reid Dart 15
Officer of the Day: Mark Dexter Safety Boat: Richard York