ILCA Grand Prix at Ullswater Yacht Club

Fifteen boats entered the ILCA Grand Prix held at Ullswater Yacht Club on 2nd September. On account of the forecast, slightly fewer than that arrived and those that did spent the morning enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful view of a glassy and windless Ullswater.

Just as PRO Rick Boyce was about to give up waiting and hoist N over A a zephyr appeared from the forecast direction and slowly built to a sailable breeze.

A few people had decided to go home at lunchtime and thus it was that eleven boats took to the water at about 3 in the afternoon and Rick and his team managed to squeeze in three short windward/leeward races before the 5-o-clock cut-off for the last start. In the first race Ian Jones began as he meant to go on, establishing an early lead and never looking threatened. During this race the wind swung about 45 degrees to the west turning the beat into a fetch so opportunities for overtaking were very limited. Tim Keighley was second with Stuart Belfield from Leigh & Lowton S.C. third.

The course was rapidly relaid for Race 2 which turned out the best of the day with a true beat and enough wind for three laps. The finishing order was the same as for the first race.

By the time race 3 began the wind was rapidly dropping and the fleet just managed to ghost around for one lap before rocking and pumping their way back to the shore. Ian Jones took his third win with Gordon Riddell 2nd and Alex Horsman from Ripon S.C. 3rd. in an ILCA 6.

The next event in the series is at Coniston on 9th September.

Overall Results: