Team Astbury take the series – just!

Tense!! – that would be the best word to describe the finish to the 2005 Inter-Club series. 42 sailors from 6 Clubs gathered at Asbury on what was to be a rather damp, light wind day. Fortunately the competition was intense and the minds were focussed on what was to be an eventful day. We started with a quick explanation of the scoring system and series results so far. It was clear that the current series leaders, the Wirral Warriors would need to beat their rivals, Team Astbury to take the series. All teams, with 4 events would discard their worst result and in the event of tied points and places; everything would depend on this final event. The tension at the briefing was relieved by the appearance of the Salford Sharks mascot – yes we had a team member dressed up as a red shark – great!!!! True to their promise, it was also good to see the Sale Stormers at their first event this year – well done to you.

To make sure that the event counted 3 cross-wind giant slaloms were held in dying winds, before lunch. 11 sailors in the 5.5m and 6.6m fleets started first and from the outset it was clear that the battle between the Warriors and Team Astbury would be intense. 31 sailors formed up on the line for the 3.5m and 4.5m fleets. Following the 5.5m and 6.6m fleets was not easy and it was quickly recognised by the more experienced that a good start was crucial

After lunch the rain started to set in for the day, but the competition continued. To challenge the best sailors, an up wind finish was added to the slalom course. For some sailors this last little section proved to be quite demanding and a grand-prix finish was used to make sure that nearly all sailors obtained a finish. Having now completed 5 races a final 2 races would be required to give 2 discards. The light winds continued so this time the slalom course had a finish further downwind and in front of the clubhouse. Parents and coaches were on song giving encouragement as the sailors came across the finish line.

So, what about the results? Talk about tense!

• In all 3 fleets the top 3 positions went to Astury or Warriors sailors (apart from Chris Maamoon – Salford Sharks 3^rd 5.5m – well done Chris!). When reading out the results it was obvious that the results would be close.

• The 2 special trophies went to James Bloor (aged 8, Team Astbury – the smallest sailor on a 1.8m sail) and to Rachel Hardy (Wirral Warriors – celebrating her birthday at 4pm!! – her last event!)

• Sale Stormers had 3 sailors finishing mid-fleet in the 3.5m and 4.5m fleets - well done. Unfortunately the missing 3 sailors made a big difference. Final position 6^th.

• Hollingworth Hunters with 4 sailors had a real spread of results including a 4^th and a 5^th. Final Position 5^th.

• Salford Sharks with 5 sailors showed great spirit, and had some good results including a 3^rd, 6^th and 9^th. You were 4^th just 3 points behind………..

• Manley Mere Katz who also had 5 sailors. When this was announced the 3^rd place was great news for Coach Trish Melton after all her efforts this season whilst expecting her own little windsurfer!

• So it was down to the final 2 teams:-

• Wirral Warriors had 1x1st, 3x2nds, 1x3rd and 1x5th = 15points

• Team Astbury had 3x1st’s, 1x2nd, and 2x3rds = 11points

• TEAM ASTBURY win this final event and tie with WIRRAL WARIORS for the series. After the discard both teams have 1x1st’s and 1x2nd. So the series winner is the team who took the final event. TEAM ASTBURY win the series – well done to both teams for making this the closest ever Inter-Club competion.

(Apologies to Jay Gwym and Steve Tyson – the same rules had to be applied to your results in the 6.6m fleet. You both tied on 16 points and had the same number of 1^st’s, 2^nd’s and 3^rd’s so the winner of the final race gets the results – Jay you were 2^nd and Steve you were 3^rd. The mistake was only recognised when the results were calculated using the special results software. Being good sports I know that you will swap trophies at, perhaps the next time you meet up at West Kirby? – thanks lads)

Thanks, goes to Ali and her team at Astbury (Good luck in the Champions Cup at Rutland in October!!!!). Good luck to all sailors who are going on to events in the Region and National:-

25^th/26^th September – Youth and Masters. Weymouth

25^th/26^th September – Speed Sailing Event, West Kirby

1^st/2^nd October – RYA Zone Championships, Ullswater

15^th/16^th October – T15 Champions Cup, Rutland

30^th October  - X Event with UKWA, Southport

26^th/27^th November – Zone Squad Qualifiers, Carsington

For more information on these – e-mail me.

Thanks to all Coaches and Parents for supporting Team 15 in 2005. If you have any comments to make on the events we have held this year, do not hesitate to contact me.

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

-- | --

Free National Sail Number
Make race scoring easy
& obtain your unique number.
It's yours for life
& a free benefit of RYA membership

Contact
tzaneen.mears@rya.org.uk
to be allocated your official number.

Once you have the number
the actual sticky-back digits
can be ordered from
UKWA

-- | --

Team15
Coach Courses


T15 Coach-Red courses
will now be known as
Racing Instructor Courses
 T15 Coach-Freestyle courses
will change to T15 Freestyle Coach!  

For information
(previous courses in 2008)

Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Fully booked

James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Gwent Adventures - Wales
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 9/10 August 2008
Closing date: 25 July
5 candidates on course


Grafham Water Centre - Cambridgeshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
Spaces available
6 candidates on course

Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
4 candidates on course


Roadford Lake - Okehampton
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
Organised by South West Lakes Trust
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Freestyle
Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 1/2 May 2008
6 candidates on course


Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend Course: 12/13 April 2008
Cancelled: lack of candidates

-- | --

ADOPT-A-BEACH