SAILING: Horrendous weather hits Wirral Regatta events (From Wirral Globe)

SAILING: Horrendous weather hits Wirral Regatta events

3:45pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Sport By Andrew Stratton

THE horrendous June weather hit the start of the local Regattas programme.

West Cheshire Sailing Club had to call off their event on Saturday.

It was wet and windy and uninviting at New Brighton and officials were left with little option other than to hoist the abandonment flag.

The Junior Regattas on West Kirby Lake on Friday evening were also a victim of the elements.

Wallasey Yacht Club were more fortunate as the conditions changed for the better for their annual event on Sunday.

Amazingly sunshine greeted the crews at New Brighton but they found the going slow in a fickle sea breeze.

Some yachts from Rock Ferry and the Liverpool Marina were unable to make the early start because of the light conditions.

The home-based Seabird Class had the Percy Wakeham Memorial Trophy at stake and it was Peter Morrish and Dave Syme who took the winning gun in Terek to became the latest to have their names engraved on the silverware.

In a close contest over a one-lap course John Davies in Teal finished runner-up and John Carrier aboard Kahu took third.

Steve Stratton headed the Hoylake Operas in Fidelio and the Falcon Class main award was taken by a visitor from Fiddlers Ferry Sailing Club.

The Fast Dinghy section was claimed by Richard Fairclough in an RS 500 Simple Solution and the Handicap Cats saw James Douglas to the fore in a Dart Eighteen.

The Regatta scene moves to Rock Ferry this Saturday for the Royal Mersey Yacht Club programme but again there is an early start at 9am and the turn out could be low.

The Seabirds will in fact compete in their own waters later in the day around low tide.

The Liverpool Yacht Club Regatta is set for Sunday. Hopefully the Junior Regattas on Friday evening at West Kirby will be given the go ahead as unsettled conditions continue to hit the long planned local fixtures.