North West Senior Travellers at Elton Sailing Club
by Dave Woodhead 5 Oct 2018 00:22 NZDT
2 October 2018
North West Senior Travellers at Elton © Dave Scott
The final event of the 2018 North West Senior Travellers took place at a breezy Elton Sailing Club on Tuesday 2nd October.
This series is for the over 50s and consists of seven open meetings at seven neighbouring clubs in South Lancashire / Greater Manchester. Each meeting takes place on a Tuesday and is largely aimed at the retired / semi retired, although a few youngsters in their early 50s take a day off work to attend. Now in its 8th year the series is as popular as ever with 62 boats from 14 clubs taking part in one or more events.
Before the first race at Elton Ian Jones from Dovestone S C sailing a Laser held a narrow lead in the series over Mark Platt from Bolton SC in a Supernova. Just behind them was Richard Catchpole from Leigh and Lowton sailing a Solo. However Ian had taken himself off to European Laser event and Mark was unable to make it.
This left Richard with a narrow window of opportunity to take the series providing he could get three top results on the day. It was obvious that Richard meant business! In very gusty conditions which saw a few mast heads touching the water he won the first race and the scene was set for a victory. The second race went to Tony Critchley in a supernova but Richard got a crucial second place.
The third race saw some of the strongest gusts and the opposition melted away whilst Richard stayed in perfect control and clinched the race and the series. With extra results to count Mark Platt leap frogged Ian Jones to maintain second overall whilst Ian having dominated the first four events slipped to third. Fourth overall was the ever consistent Andy Flitcroft in another Supernova from Bolton S C and the top five was completed by Dave Woodhead in a Solo form Elton.
A special trophy for the first double hander went to the Enterprise of David Thomas and Shan Stapely from Gresford S C. The Grand Master trophy (over 70) went to Malcolm Jones form Elton in a Solo. The club prize for the top 3 boats from any club went to Bolton S C,, the 3 Supernovas of Mark Platt, Andy Flitcroft and Tony Critchley were always to be found at the front of the fleet.
Other regions have been encouraged to take up the idea of this series which involves minimal travel and costs whilst making use of idle sailing clubs mid week. Next year a similar series is being planned in Cumbria. The only down side is having to negotiate rush hour traffic instead of the normally empty roads on Saturdays and Sundays. However one can feel quite smug sat at traffic lights knowing that those around you are going to work whilst you are going sailing!
The full results for 2018 are also available on the RYA north west web site were the details of the 2019 series will also be available. early next year. Any enquiries about the series please email Dave Woodhead at