Alison Blatcher
Overcoming slight winds, Gary McCrohon was able to claim the last Laser race in the summer series held by the Tweed Valley Sailing Club the Sunday before last.
John Hayward (Laser) led the pack for a while, even ahead of the Sledder team (Hobie 16), but Gary McCrohon won out for the Lasers in the end, but only by 13 seconds on John. Mauri Meyer came in 65 seconds after, including the 60-second delay for the quick dip he took on the first leg!
The six Corsairs all had some good sailing in their final class championship. Congratulations to Monique Smith, Matt Andrews and Kate Yeomans for their win on Corsair Swell Lady with Bill Fenelon, Sienna Pullan and Deborah Flannery (Minnow) 38 seconds behind after overtaking Alison Blatcher, Marg Walgers and Karen Vidler (Melita III) at the final buoy, rounding with a clever starboard call.
Kevin Bourke, Syd Brown and new crew James Bartlett (Nimbus) were seconds behind again and Russ Timbs, Hayden Bech and Bob Ormsby (Dominatrix) and Mark Reynolds, Brad Pullan andCraig Foley (Keenas) fought for fifth and sixth.
The day started with a resounding ‘let’s go’ from at least 24 of the 25 sailors at the Tweed Valley SC’s race briefing early on Sunday March 19, but may have been regretted on the first leg with only about six knots and some nasty windless holes that half the fleet got caught in.
But spirits lifted, however, as the wind appeared from somewhere (everywhere at times) getting up to 12 knots, and the fleet battled on.
The Club will celebrate the season at their Annual Presentation Dinner in May. Email [email protected]