FIDDLERS FERRY SAILING CLUB
SUNDAY 17 th OCTOBER 2004
The second leg of the Mersey Challenge, finally took place on Sunday 17th October 2004. For once, a reasonable wind was forecast, and Ken the Officer of the Day was able to set a more interesting course than the usual 'down to the bridge and back.'
Fiddlers Ferry SC had a very good chance of taking the trophy in these conditions, and set a trap which would enhance their chances of success. More of that later.
The start was very straightforward if you thought it out. Get to the line,
spill some wind, and you could maintain position against the tide. But once
the race started, the Falcons blocked the wind, and John Ainsworth in the
Laser could not break away.
Les in the Solo suffered even more, and from being second at the start, he
was second to last, going around the first mark. Brian Hardy and his brother
in the Wanderer had a terrible start, and were lying last.
At the first visit to No3 bouy, the tide tried to sweep you past on the wrong side. Everone got past except Les in the Solo. The wind died and he was pushed outside the mark. It took 10 minutes to recover by which time the rest of the fleet had sailed off into the distance.
The course eventually went way back,down the river to a No 5 buoy and then back up the river to No3 buoy. This was the trap, as it was now taken against the tide, with any available wind, blanketed by a tree.
Les at the back of the fleet wondered where everbody was. Then he saw them. There must have been ten boats all stuck , just short of the No 3 mark. The trap had worked, but it had got everybody. Only John Ainsworth in the Laser escaped, and surely he would win the race at a canter now!
Les sailed way past No3, took it on the run, and still failed to have enough speed to get round. He sailed up the bank, and walked his boat through the reeds. Just like Humphrey Bogard in the African Queen. We're not sure it's legal, but not as illegal as paddles.
Unfortunately, this was not the last visit to this bouy, and poor John in the Laser failed to get round the final time, and retired. The air black and blue. He should have swallowed his pride, walked the Laser along the bank, and won the race.
In the event, the lead Falcon got free, and won by a mile. Brian Taylor and John Hamilton in the Enterprise for Weaver SC were having a good race, and spent the entire race in a Falcon sandwich. BT would surely have finished in second place, but made a mess of the very last bouy. Get it wrong against a tide this strong and you get punished. BT finished 6 th, but deserved better. Brian Hardy in theWanderer got it right and finished second over the line, to take a vital 2nd place for Weaver SC.
The Wayfarer of Fiddlers SC took 3rd, and by way of a minor miracle, Les took 4th place in the Solo. If there was ever an example of never quitting in a race, this was it.
And so Fiddlers Ferry SC came ever so close to capturing the trophy. They
needed a 1st,2nd and 3rd. In the end they got 1st, 3rd and 5th, while Weaver
SC got 2nd, 4th and 6th.
I think justice was done in the end, as the trap was a bit over the top, and
a lot of dubious antics went on to overcome it!
But most importantly, it was very good fun, and a great day out. And our thanks go to Fiddlers Ferry Sailing Club for their hospitality and friendliness. I just hope we can get hold of the video, so we can all relive the occasion.
Les Hodgkinson
Solo and African Queen.