Laser & Solo Open Meeting 18 May 08

Last year a party of competitors from the other side of the Pennines had an accident on the way here and never arrived. This year they drove more carefully, but forgot to bring the wind with them. Nonetheless, we were glad to see them.

The weather was cloudy, the wind perhaps Force 2, from the North, which did not make for exciting sailing.

Race 1. Josh Moran, a rising star from nearby Otley, was quick off the mark, but Hamish Gledhill, of West Riding S.C., was right on his tail, which position was held for over 3 laps. In the absence of stronger winds, which might have allowed for more enterprising positioning on the beats, Josh was able to fend of his challenger, and he gradually extended his lead over the final laps. The sole lady contender, the lovely Wendy Jones from Dovestone S.C., had been occupying third place during the first half of the race, but was then assailed by Tim Lowe from Redesmere. They were almost glued together for a couple of laps, until Tim just squeezed ahead to take third place.

Race 2. Just a tad more wind, and a few spots of rain. Hamish had good fortune at the start, with Neil Skellam of Leigh & Lowton S.C. behind him. Local veteran John Simms, late of Otley, constituted a threat in third place, then had to battle for the rest of the race with his old Otley chum, Josh Moran, but bravely held him off, and took 3^rd place behind Hamish and Neil, whose positions had remained unchanged.

Race 3. The wind was dying, but the third race proved the most thrilling. Once again Hamish led the field, with Tim Lowe following. After 2 laps Tim managed to get ahead, and extended his lead right to the end. But the best performance of the day was by Wendy, who managed to shake off her clubmate Ian Lees, and then Neil. Wendy steadily gained ground, and finally overtook Hamish, to finish in 2^nd place, a very fine result indeed. Hamish took 3^rd place, proving to be a well deserved winner overall.

EPILOGUE

And what about the lads (John Simms excluded)! Just look at those boat numbers. New boats – new sails. How can humble (to say nothing of “mature”) Yorkshire working lads compete against young, athletic, rich visitors? Grizzled veteran Phil Graham performed very consistently. Andrew and Mick snapping at his heels. The absence of wind prevented David Statman from giving his usual display of aquatic acrobatics. Get down to the Gym, lads. We’ll show ‘em next year!

FINAL ROLLCALL

1. 185960 Hamish Gledhill West Riding S.C.
2. 186697 Tim Lowe Redesmere S.C.
3. 187497 Josh Moran Otley S.C.
4. 169090 Wendy Jones Dovestone S.C.
5. 170471 Neil Skellam Leigh & Lowton S.C.
6=. 182224 Ian Lees Dovestone
6=. 121822 John Simms Yeadon S.C.
8. 182223 Tom Goddard Dovestone
9. 180421 Phil Graham Yeadon
10. 166406 Mick Bower Yeadon
11. 160687 David Statman Yeadon
12. 83566 Andrew Cowling Yeadon
13. 149413 Gerard Kennedy Yeadon

Reflections on a good weekend !

While the Open Day was happening at the Club, two Yeadon Juniors were sailing on Rutland Water for the weekend, racing against the best RYA Zone Junior Squad Sailors from across the country in the RYA Eric Twiname Championships which conclude the hard winter’s training programme for all the Zone Squads.
On Saturday there was no sailing because there was no wind, but Sunday was better and the boats launched early and were able to get 3 races in. In a tough fleet of 28 Mirrors, Matthew and Benjamin produced some consistent results, always in the top half, coming 8th overall, which is a brilliant result, especially they are one of the younger teams in the Squads

In case you were worried it’s not all hard sailing, there was quite a bit of socialising, especially whilst waiting for the wind on Saturday, and a massive tournament of ‘Human’ Table football also took place

As they were running the races ‘back to back’ everybody would be out on the water for some time, so it tickled Heather that right in the middle of the courses there was a Portaloo sat on top a support boat so that the sailors could visit the loo between the races should they so require ! Not something you see everyday in the middle of a lake.

Good luck to Matthew and Benjamin for when they take part in their first major open Championships, the Mirror Nationals at Llandudno, over Spring Bank Holiday period

Open Day Success

The sun shone, the Club house was busy and there were lots of boats out on the Tarn, it was only the wind that forgot to turn up !

Even so, lots of people took the opportunity to be able to glide across the Tarn for the first time, chasing the zephyrs throughout the day. Most people seemed to enjoy it and there were lots of smiles as they came off the water.

Club members turned up in force to help out, telling people what we did, answering questions, fitting people out with buoyancy aids and taking people out on the Tarn. While in the kitchen Gerard, Mary and others, kept the many visitors and club members fed and watered.

Many thanks to all the club members who were able to support, and helped the day to be a success, and also to the Leeds Sailing Centre for their support too.

It looks like it could be very busy for the next few Tuesdays, so any club members with access to a two man boat, and who could come down and help would be very much appreciated !!!

Sad news about Sandra Cowling

Many of you will have heard the sad news of the recent death of Sandra Cowling.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Andrew and Luke.
Sandra was a keen sailor and a great member of the YSC - she will be sadly missed.

Her funeral takes place on Tuesday 13th May at Christs Church ,The Grove, Ilkley at 11.00am.
Flowers are requested from family only with donations to the NSPCC.

Any club member wishing to attend is welcome to do so.

You can’t rely on the weather – The Tale of Two Days

This Saturday was one of the busiest this season so far. We started off early Saturday lunchtime with a junior training session and then had a great turn out in the afternoon sunshine for the Series races.

Sunday on the other hand was just miserable in the grey and the drizzle.

Thanks to John and Sarah, who had the sunshine and to Mike and Barabra, who had the drizzle, the OODs for the weekend making most of the awkward cross Tarn winds.

Success in Yorkshire Youth Series

This weekend the Yorkshire and Humberside Youth Series Regatta was held high up on the Moors, in the shadow of the Ovenden Moor wind generator farm, at Halifax SC. The wind generators are well placed as it is always windy up there !
Yeadon were represented by Adam, in his Topper, and Matthew and Benjamin, in their Mirror.
Despite being not particularly well before hand Matthew and Benjamin sailed two good races and were either first or second Mirror, and were mid fleet in the overall results.
Adam however certainly found the conditions to his liking, so much so that he won the event !
Well done Adam !

The series goes on every weekend until July and is a great chance to race against other Juniors and it is a good training ground as Juniors from the Club have found in the past.

The remainder of the events in the YHYSA series are ;

10th May - Beaver
17th May - Welton
31st May - Ripon
7th June - Yorkshire Dales
14th June - Otley
21st June - Pennine
28th June - West Riding
5th July - Rotherham
12th and 13th July - Filey Regatta (Two Day Event to finish with)

For more information about the series please speak to either Neil McInnes or John Simms

Training in Full Swing

Yeadon Sailing Club’s Training programme is now in full swing. The Tuesday Night programme kicked off with a couple of well attended sessions and it looks like it will be a bumper season. All Club members are welcome to come down and get involved, either if you want to improve your sailing or to help out. We could particularly could do with people who have access to double handed boats to get involve on the helping out side.
The Tuesday Night Sessions run until the 12th August. Come down get involved, it’s really good fun, sessions start at 7.00pm, please be changed and ready for then.

Also this weekend the regular Saturday Lunch Time Junior Training Sessions started with a good turn.
The object of the sessions is get the Juniors out on the Tarn and sailing more confidently and focused, but having a bit of fun as well, and we would also like to encourage them to get involved in the Junior races, other Club racing and possibly other junior sailing events as well.

The programme is similar to last year and will run until Commodore’s Weekend, with sailing skills sessions and racing skills sessions (linked to the Junior Race days) ;

Sessions start at 12.00 prompt and everybody should changed and ready with their boats rigged by then. We go on until just before 2.00 pm and then anybody who wants to join in with the Club racing at 2.30 pm can do.