A cold and frosty morning greeted sailors for the Chelmarsh Sailing Club annual
St David's Day Regatta. The event marks the end of the winter season and more
importantly the start of the Spring & Summer racing series and for many,
peeling off the boat covers for the first time in months! An array of classes
attended the event with Solos, GP14s, Lasers, Fireballs, a Xenon, Wayfarer and RS 500.
In Race 1 the wind all but disappeared giving the Solos an advantage as the start of
the pursuit race saw a little more breeze with Chelmarsh's Gareth Wilkinson taking
first place. Fireball visitors Dave Turtle and Huw Jones from Gresford S.C did well to
over take most of the fleet and finish fourth.
The second race saw probably the best breeze of the day and saw a photo finish between
Fireballers Dave & Huw and Pete and Sabine Townend in the RS 500.
Frustratingly the lack of wind halted sailors at times and, with the cold biting,
sent the less hardy to retire for a warm cuppa in the third race!
The event was well attended with sailors from as far as Wrexham and Scotland's
Dalgetty Bay making the journey to the sailing club at Chelmarsh Reservoir,
Hampton Loade, Shropshire.
Congratulations go to Gareth Wilkinson for winning the event in his Solo,
second place went to Solo sailor Tony Hanan both of Chelmarsh Sailing Club,
3rd place and 1st Junior went to Mathew Holbourn of Severn Sailing Club with
1st Lady being awarded to Andrea Wilkinson of Chelmarsh Sailing Club.
The day was very well run by OOD Gary Hodkinson and his team and the most
fantastic galley run by Jenny Lester & Sonia Hobbs - many commenting how the
food alone was well worth turning up for!
Chelmarsh S.C would like to thank both sailors and volunteers for supporting the St. David's Day Regatta.
