GP14 Open at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Hollingworth Lake SC gave a warm, and very sunny, welcome to five Scorpions and a fleet of eighteen GP14s for their annual open meeting. On the previous day, when there was a dire shortage of wind, Neil Marsden gave a masterclass in training to GP14 sailors. On that day, the forecast for Sunday had been for rain and breezy conditions, but that proved wrong!

A north westerly wind is not the best direction for the Club as it flows over local buildings. However, Neil, crewed by long term sailing partner Derrick Hill, soon sussed out the fluky wind patterns. Indeed, he usually had to work his way through the fleet.

Not unusually, the fleet were too keen on the first start and the Race Officer, Julian Parry brought out the black flag. This kept everyone in order. Some of the wily locals showed the way at first but it was not long before Neil Marsden took the lead with Adam McGovern and Ellie Davies trying everything to find a better route on the windward legs. Steve Crook and Les Bithell (familiar name, unusual role) held third place, ahead of Mark, and son Sam, Platt.

After lunch, two races were sailed back-to-back. Again the fleet were too keen and had to restart. This time, the route to the windward mark led to some surprises as the leaders found that one of Saturday's trainees, Kevin Parry with John Walker, had found a different and better route to the mark with a starboard tack. Alas, they were unable to hold on to the benefit as the front runners piled in. This time, Mark Platt took the lead as Marsden had to work his way through. The downwind legs saw good use of the alternative gybe strategies. Platt looked to be holding the lead but Marsden was catching up and soon a covering battle was commenced. At this stage, Club Commodore Andy Carter, with wife Elmarie, was able to take advantage and gain the lead while the others fought. Whilst Marsden was able to overtake the Carters to win, they held the runner-up spot with the Platts coming in third.

The wind was a little more stable in direction for the final race which got away first time. This time however the Platts were prepared and took an early lead while Marsden had to find a way through this competitive fleet. That Neil Marsden finished second to the Platts is a tribute to the tenacity with which he and his crew worked their way up. Neil had stamped his mark on the event, with the Platts challenging well for second place overall and Adam McGovern taking third place in the race and third overall. The Carters were just one point behind overall.

So Marsden and Hill, past World Champions, have not lost the way to success in the GP14 fleet.

Overall Results: