Sailing Chandlery RS200 Northern Tour, Leigh & Lowton, 25 March

The 2023 Sailing Chandlery RS200 Northern Tour kicked off in blustery conditions at Leigh and Lowton SC as 12 boats hit the water for plenty of close racing, tiring hiking and big sends!

The forecast leading up to the event showed that the fleet could expect anything between 10 and 25 knots. True to its word, the fleet got the full range of conditions on the day as they launched into strong breeze blowing straight down the flash. It did not take long for the first boat to capsize as new Northern Rep Ben Teague (1478) was unable to kick the bad habits he developed last season giving stand-in crew Nat Pritchard Jones the shivers.

PRO Cathy Lunn and her crack race team set a windward/leeward course with Race 1 getting off to a clean start. Adam and Martyn Catlow (728) lead the fleet round mark 1 with Alistair Norris and Evie Coates (1509), and Gareth and Jen Williams (1033) in hot pursuit. Strong gusts followed by intermittent lulls meant the leaders were regularly switching positions on the downwind leg. The boat that could stay in the breeze the longest was Gareth and Jen who sailed brilliantly to win race one ahead of Alistair and Evie, and Adam and Martyn.

By the time race two came around, the breeze had built and the RS400s had joined us on the flash for the start of their Spring Championships. After a delayed start to race two because of a general recall for the 400s, the 200s showed them how it is done and got off to another clean start. As the majority of the fleet headed right, Ben and Nat hoped they would get lucky and headed for the left-hand side. The extra boats on the water added another level of complexity to the beat as the 200s had to navigate their way through capsized 400s as the breeze caught many a good sailor out! In the end, Alistair and Evie took race two followed by Adam and Martyn and with Dan and Eva McLean (891) in third.

After a break for lunch, the fleet headed out for the afternoon’s races. Unfortunately, Ben and Nat suffered a breakage before the start and had to retire from the days racing. Some might say our Northern Rep had a disastrous day. Alistair and Evie swept to their second win of the day in race three followed by Adam and Martyn in second to, all but secure the top two places overall. However, things were getting hotting up behind them as Russell and Vicky Page (1419) finished third with Martin and Barbara Smith (1068) finishing fourth. Everything was to play for going into the fourth and final race as several boats were in the running for the third and final podium spot. Adam and Martin got off to a great start again but there were plenty of boat in hot pursuit. Alistair and Evie won race three with Russell and Vicky taking a fantastic second with Gareth and Jen close behind in third.

Overall, Leigh and Lowton’s Alistair Norris (who is making winning a sign of the times on the Northern Tour!) once again stormed to victory, ably assisted by Evie in the front of the boat (1509). Adam and Martyn Catlow and Gareth and Jen Williams completed a Leigh and Lowton 1, 2, 3 finished 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. John and Heather Ward also took home a special prize for the most capsizes on the day.

Big thanks go to Cathy and her race team for a day of fantastic racing, as well as the rescue crew, galley team, and Leigh and Lowton SC for their fabulous hospitality. Special thanks go to our sponsors Sailing Chandlery for their support of the tour and fantastic prizes. The 2023 Sailing Chandlery Northern Tour returns on Sunday 7^th May as we head to Yorkshire Dales SC.

Want to learn how to catch the Norris’? Budworth SC are holding an Open Training on Saturday 15^th April! Everyone is welcome and you can sign up on the Club’s website.

Ben Teague

PS, Ben says “try and find how many titles from number 1 singles I have written into the report!”