Bright sunshine and a rare but welcome steady wind, directly down the flash, greeted 23 Boats from 15 clubs to the Northern Area Championships.
7 different leaders in Race 1 pointed to a competitive weekend ahead and competitors and spectators were not to be disappointed, with a series of five thrilling races.
With the wily Tim Grey & Simon Foskett from Staunton Harold, National Champions Ian Dobson & Andrew Hall from Burwain and the Birrell Brothers from Winsford Flash all punching in consistently high placings the event went down to the wire.
With one beat to complete in the last race, these three boats were separated by one single point, at the finish Dobson & Hall fought their way up to 4th on the line, deservedly taking the Championship as well as the North West Travellers, followed home in both series by Grey & Foskett and Niki & Christian Birrell.
First Juniors were Daniel & James Ellis from Plymouth, with Katie & Anna Mackenzie from Windermere taking the Ladies prize.
All in all, a great weekends sailing.
Thanks go to Race Officer, Les Owen, and his assistant Phil Edwards, Club Secretary Helen Walsh, Club Commodore Paul Lennie for presenting a fine array of prizes and especially Pat Brook from Hollingworth Lake S.C. for collating the results.
| Pos | Fleet | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Youths | 69821 - Green Machine 2 | Ian Dobson | Andrew Hall | Burwain S C | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9.0 | |
| 2nd | 70159 | Tim Gray | Simon Foskett | Staunton Harold S C | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11.0 | ||
| 3rd | Youths | 69164 - Be Realistic | Niki Birrell | Christian Birrell | Winsford | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12.0 | |
| 4th | 70154 - Passing Wind | Craig Bond | Mitchell Bond | Brightlingsea S C | 1 | DNF | 7 | 3 | 9 | 20.0 | ||
| 5th | Junior | 70132 - We Take Plastic | Daniel Ellis | James Ellis | R.P.C.Y.C. | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 21.0 | |
| 6th | Youths | 69907 - Crianza | Jonny McGovern | Nicola Brook | Hollingworth Lake S C | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 21.0 | |
| 7th | 70045 - Peanuts 4 | Paul Williamson | Craig Williamson | Staunton Harold S C | 8 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 22.0 | ||
| 8th | 39508 - Norbert | Guy Wilkins | Joe Willkins | Chipstead | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 23.0 | ||
| 9th | Youths | 69683 - George | Katie MacKenzie | Anna MacKenzie | Royal Windermere Y C | 11 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 34.0 | Ladies |
| 10th | 69035 - Flashpoint | S M Sutcliffe | Heather Starling | Shustoke | 9 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 40.0 | ||
| 11th | 70171 - Déjà vu | Steve Long | Juliet Long | Plym Y C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 40.0 | ||
| 12th | Junior | 70101 | Peter Gray | Helen Williamson | Staunton Harold S C | 14 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 43.0 | |
| 13th | Youths | 70000 | Stuart Bithell | Jonny Toogood | Hollingworth Lake S C | 6 | 3 | DNF | 12 | DNF | 45.0 | |
| 14th | Junior | 69726 - Blew | Ned McNulty | Gareth Evans | Hillhead S C | 13 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 50.0 | |
| 15th | 70010 - Woody | Gerry McGill | Luke McGill | Sunderland | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 52.0 | ||
| 16th | Junior | 70153 - No Patience III | Gareth Hughes | Cameron Sharp | Hollingworth Lake S C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 58.0 | |
| 17th | Youths | 69972 - Plastic Poo Number 2 | Becky Partridge | Hannah Wilcock | Budworth S C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 64.0 | Ladies |
| 18th | Junior | 69182 | Patrick Houlihan | Imogen Westropp | Royal Windermere YC | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 71.0 | |
| 19th | 67301 | Tony Wilcock | Rachel Wilcock | Budworth S C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 71.0 | ||
| 20th | Junior | 47566 | Eloise Hansen | Kayleigh Hansen | North Lincs | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 79.0 | Ladies |
| 21st | 67493 - Eeyor | David Moore | Jon Moore | Blithfield S C | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 79.0 | ||
| 22nd | Junior | 69727 - Vital Spark | Emma Houlihan | Emily MacKenzie | Royal Windermere Y C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | DNF | 84.0 | Ladies |
| 23rd | Junior | 67866 - Wozatru | Jemima Cope | George Cope | Winsford | 23 | 22 | 22 | DNF | 21 | 88.0 |
Class Association Prizes
| Trophy: | For: | Presented? | Presented To: | Should have been presented to: | Held now by / In the care of: |
| Northern Area Daily Mirror Trophy | 1st Overall Helm |
YES
|
Ian Dobson | . | Ian Dobson |
