Sailing club rounds off 2024 with exciting Christmas Plate event

Dovestone Sailing Club's last sailing day of the year is the annual open day trophy, the Christmas Plate.

It was great to see so many visitors to the club, with boats from Leigh and Lowton SC, Hollingworth Lake SC, Scammonden SC, Pennine SC, Rossendale Valley SC, Elton SC and Etherow Country Park SC.

In total there were 26 boats competing. 

As the competitors arrived the reservoir set amongst hills of the Peak District National Park was glass smooth, not a sight sailors are eager to see.

As a result of the lack of wind the Race Officer, Mark Rahn, postponed the first of three races by 30 minutes.

Thankfully by 11:30am, the delayed start time, there was just enough breeze to propel the boats around the course. 

In the first race, Martin Knott, a visitor from Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, had a great start in his Phantom.

Ian Jones, DSC’s most successful sailor, sailing a Laser, was not too far behind.

The races were held using the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) Portsmouth Yardstick scheme which assigns a number to each boat class.

The number allows the race organisers to calculate an adjusted time for each boat. Using this scheme means faster boats can be first on the water yet not first after adjusted time.

A Phantom is a faster boat than a Laser, but Jones was just too far behind Knott and after adjusted time Knott was still ahead by a few seconds. 

After the first race competitors returned to shore and the clubhouse for a lunch of soup and sandwiches created by the galley team led by Anne Webb. 

Racing continued in the afternoon.

The course was unchanged but the wind was significantly stronger.

Again Martin Knott in his Phantom led the fleet but this time after time was adjusted by PY handicaps he was in 6th place, with Ian Jones in 1st, D. Neild 2nd and Wendy Jones 3rd.

In the final race Knott took first place and with one discard, the final results were: 

1st Martin Knott Ribble/LLSC Phantom

2nd Ian Jones Dovestone SC Laser/ ILCA 7

3rd D Nield Elton SC Solo 5849

4th David Jones Dovestone SC Laser/ ILCA 7

5th Wendy Jones Dovestone SC Streaker

Youngster F Smith deserves a special mention for doing all three races in his Optimist.

With a boat that has a speed of only just over half the leaders, he did an excellent job competing. 

The competitors returned and were greeted with mulled wine and mince pies on the slipway.

After derigging and changing many stayed for prize-giving, drinks and carols in the clubhouse.

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