Event 3 
Halifax Sailing Club
Sunday 14 August 2005

"ON WARLEY MOOR, BA TAT"
Or was that Ilkley Moor?, anyway a moor we were definitely on. Pitched high above the town of Halifax adjacent to a large wind farm, first impressions on what was a dull, overcast morning were less than favourable. The water, a bleak greyish colour reflecting the overcast skies, did not look inviting. A problem with the combination lock on the sailing club gates keeping us out seemed a pretty good idea, but despite being only just after 9.00am there were already cars full of eager clubbers anxious to off-load and start preparing for the day's events.

Once the gates had been lifted off their hinges to allow access, the man with the hacksaw arrived to find he wasn't needed after all so he retreated into the clubhouse for that Yorkshire "cure all", a cup of tea.

While the outdoors may have looked bleak, the welcome and hospitality of the hosts was in complete contrast, as I was briefed about the competitors lunch comprising, soup, sandwiches and a vast array of home-made cakes.

Registration complete, the Cyclones from Covenham were there in force keen to build on their success at Coquet. Surfstore Allstars (Neilson), minus “cool-hand” Tait, who was off holidaying in America were well represented and they were joined by 2 Crushers from Coquet and the Bainbridge Hurricanes (Bic) from the host club.

Holiday absence had depleted the 5.5m & 6.6m classes somewhat but entries in the 3.5m & 4.5m classes totalled 18, making a grand total of 25 entries in all.
A combination of wind direction and launch access resulted in the splitting of the entrants into 2 groups. The 3.5m & 4.5m fleets under the care of home Club Coach Peter Sykes and John McAfee from Surfstore departed for the opposite shore while the 5.5 & 6.6m fleets stayed club-side.

The latter fleets were the first to take to the water and with 2 attendees from the recent RYA Summer Race camp in the 6.6m fleet, the parental onlookers were keen to see how well their money had been spent. Connor Bainbridge (Halifax Hurricanes) took an early lead, only to discover he had technical problems with his sliding mast-track, which ultimately let Scott Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) through to take first place. In the 5.5m fleet, a separating of his board and rig, meant Simon Thompson (Covenham Cyclones) ended up watching his 2 team mates battle it out with Max Anderson (Surfstore Allstars). Max kept his head to take the first race just ahead of David Smith and Luke Tasker (Covenham Cyclones).

With only a slight breather and a slight alteration to the course, the combined fleets were back on the water for race 2. With no mast track problems Connor Bainbridge (Halifax Hurricanes) took first in the 6.6m class, followed by Scott Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) and Aaron Douglas (Coquet Crushers). David Smith (Covenham Cyclones) took another second behind Max Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) with Simon Thompson and Luke Tasker (Covenham Cyclones) taking 3rd and 4th respectively.

On the opposite side of the reservoir the 3.5m & 4.5m fleets were as vocal as ever, offering encouragement and cheering on their team-mates as they tackled a crosswind course as separate fleets.

In the 3.5m fleet, Joe Bennett (Surfstore Allstars) fresh from his success at Coquet, was up against Bethany Plasket (Covenham Cyclones) and there was never going to be much to choose between them. Joe took race 1 with Bethany taking race 2.

With no Jessica Cooke to contend with (where were North Lincs Invaders?), Daniel Hufton (Covenham Cyclones) found himself being pushed hard by team mate Isaac Cooper and Nicholas Durham (Surfstore Allstars) in the 4.5m fleet. Daniel took race 1 with team-mate Isaac taking race 2. Nicholas sailed well to take a second and fifth, with Coquet Crusher James Tait taking a third in race 2.

A well-deserved break for lunch and time to do justice to all the home baking so kindly provided by the ladies in the galley. The early morning grey skies had receded and with the sun making itself felt there was time to swap stories as the competitors re-fuelled ready for the next 5 races.

Races 3 & 4 saw little change in the 6.6m fleet with Connor Bainbridge (Halifax Hurricanes) maintaining his winning streak ahead of Scott Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) and Aaron Douglas (Coquet Crushers). In the 5.5m fleet, David Smith (Covenham Cyclones) managed to get the better of Max Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) to take a first in race 3, with fellow Covenham sailor Luke Tasker taking second ahead of Max. Max got back to winning ways in race 4 with Simon Thompson (Covenham Cyclones) taking second ahead of team-mates Luke Tasker and David Smith.

Race 3 in the 3.5m fleet saw Joe take another first ahead of Mathew Earp (Surfstore Allstars) in second and Bethany Plasket (Covenham Cyclones) in third. A dead heat in race 4 gave Joe and Bethany an equal first place, with Mathew Earp continuing his fine form to take another third.

Daniel Hufton (Covenham Cyclones) continued where he had left off taking firsts in races 3 & 4, but he was being pushed hard by fellow Cyclone Isaac Cooper and Surfstore Allstars Nicholas Durham who with Coquet Crusher James Tait were picking up second and third placings.

So to the final 3 races and while it looked likely that Connor Bainbridge (Halifax Hurricanes) would take first in the 6.6m class, Aaron Douglas (Coquet Crushers), was not going to let Scott Anderson (Surfstore Allstars) take second without a fight. Taking advantage of a mis-judged gybe by Scott, Aaron sailed well to take second place in race 6. True to form Connor took another 3 firsts to take first place overall, with Scott and Aaron in second and third place respectively.

In the 5.5m class a disqualification in race 5 for Max Anderson (Surfstore Allstars), provided an opportunity for David Smith (Covenham Cyclones) to close the points gap, but it was fellow Cyclone Simon Thompson who made the most of Max’s misfortune by taking first place ahead of David. Max got back to winning ways in race 6, but a fourth place in the final race coupled with Simon and David taking a first and second respectively meant the final placings were going to be oh so close.

In the 3.5m fleet things were really hotting up. With a second in race 5 behind Bethany, Joe Bennett (Surfstore Allstars) needed a good result in race 6, which he got taking first ahead of Bethany Plasket (Covenham Cyclones), in second. Mathew Earp (Surfstore Allstars) maintained his consistency by taking third place in the final three races. With Bethany securing a first place in race 7, Joe needed a good position but amazingly had his worst result of the day finishing 7th. Allowing for 2 discards, both sailors finished the event with 6 points and both because of the dead heat in race 4, had a total of 4 firsts. Down to worst discard and it was Bethany Plasket (Covenham Cyclones) who took first place overall.

Things were a little more clear-cut in the 4.5m fleet, although Isaac Cooper (Covenham Cyclones) pushed team-mate Daniel Hufton all the way, eventually taking second overall behind Daniel in first place. Nicholas Durham (Surfstore Allstars), kept ahead of James Tait (Coquet Crushers) to clinch third place.

And so to the prize giving and after missing out the results of one complete race from my calculations at Coquet, a series of double checks made sure the error would not be repeated this time round! With the Coaches awards for “special efforts”, going to Edward Donne and Chloe Bennett, both of Surfstore Allstars, a summary of the best 6 results from the 4 competing teams revealed Covenham Cyclones as the Team winners for the second event in succession. Surfstore Allstars took second place ahead of Halifax Hurricanes and Coquet Crushers.

So back on the road up to Durham and with the sun shining on the water, clear blue skies and the hills and dales of Halifax awash with the colours of summer you could almost visualise, Foggy, Compo and co tramping across the fields.

David Dobson,
T15 Competition Co-ordinator

Team winners
Covenham Cyclones

Lower three photos by Lucy Dunnett, all others by Helen Bennett

For further details contact
David Dobson
david.dobson@tvf-online.co.uk

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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