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Issue Date:- 15 September 2008

WEST LANCS. YACHT CLUB 24 HOUR RACE

SATURDAY 13 August to Sunday 14 August 2008 saw the 42nd 24 Hour Race on Southport’s Marine Lake.  Hosted by West Lancashire Yacht Club, this race has played a key role for many sailing clubs across the intervening years.  Growing from its original 12 hour race, it has also increased the fleet to include the Lark dinghy, which is strong within the university sailing clubs.

The race is managed by West Lancs., but with support of others, including a strong contingent of non -member friends, with Southport Little Theatre prominent amongst them.  It is ably backed in cash and kind by its sponsors, which include Dinghy Magazine, Mailspeed, and Cain’s Brewery, TEU Containers, Dormans and Halibop.  This year’s race builds on previous successes.

Bryan Marshall, the club’s Commodore, described to us how the various weather conditions brought different challenges.  This year, very light winds prevailed for most of the time.  He said these calm conditions tested other skills, where the crew had to seek to take advantage of whatever wind they could find.  This tended to favour younger and lighter sailors.  However, on Sunday; towards the finish time, the wind became much brisker and things became more lively, with a few capsizes along the way! All this adding interest for the keen spectators, who lined the margins of the lake, encouraging their crews as they circuited.  Good water conditions; there was very little weed and high water levels were appreciated.  These are due in part to the increased rain fall (one consolation for our indifferent summer maybe?) but also to Sefton Council’s work.

 

Ian Donaldson, the Chief Executive of the 24 Hour Race, said that there was no other race like this.  There are other endurance races, but none like the 24 Hour Race. 

It is still a massive event for the club and sees other clubs from all over the country returning year by year.  Both he and the Commodore spoke of the importance of the social side of the gathering.  Entertainment is provided and people from all over get a chance to meet as well as compete.  The most northerly club this year, was a Royal Navy crew from just north of Aberdeen.  From the south, came a collection from Weymouth and the nautical areas around Portsmouth and they and many more from regions, between made up the total of 68 entrants.  Tents and caravans sprang up all over the boatyard and on adjacent land, lent by Southport and District Scouting Association.  Catering and other facilities are provided.  Ian Donaldson commented that Scammonden Water Sailing Club had acquired a caravan for £150, on e-bay, which is used exclusively for this race and is becoming a tradition. 

We were struck by the wide range of ages involved in this event.  Notably, by intrepid 6 year old George from Burwain, near Burnley, the youngest competitor, who sailed with his father and even when conditions became friskier, continued unabashed.  Another tradition of note is that of firing a cannon for every competitor as they cross the finishing line.  These shots come from a magnificent set of miniature cannons, which are the creations of ex cabinet maker and office holder of the Club, now an Honorary member and his toolmaker son, also Chris.  They are skilfully made, 3rd scale replicas of the Tudor Mary Rose’s artillery.  They are all electronically controlled and fired as usual by enthusiasts, joined for the first time at the race, by 4 year old Jacob, who took his duties very seriously.  These cannons have in the past, appeared with Fred the Weatherman at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.  ...continued...

...continued... An important part of this race has been the ongoing collection, by many of the crews, for a charity, adopted 5 years ago as its official charity, namely ‘Sail 4 Cancer’.   Sail 4 Cancer was set up by a group of sailors who had all lost close family or friends to cancer.  The charity seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families by providing opportunities to sail and by raising cash for research and palliative care.  Money raised will help 10 young people with cancer achieve a fantastic sailing holiday in Greece.  A new trophy has been awarded this year for the group which raises the most for this objective and has been won by Southport Sailing Club’s Junior Section.  Congratulations to them for their great achievement!

This award, along with many others, was presented in the presence of the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Paul Tweed and other dignitaries in the marquee, that afternoon.  The overall winners were South Staffordshire Sailing Club (A ).  Second came Bolton Sailing Club and in third place were South Staffs ‘s B crew, with Etherow Country Club (Cheshire) as fourth.  Naturally Staffs were delighted with their double; the first time they have come first in many years.  In 68th place, Aberystwyth University SC, took their ranking in good spirit and received a liquid reward to enjoy.  West Lancs. Yacht Club( A) were 15th and Southport Sailing Club ranked 40th.

It appears to have been a very successful weekend all round and after gathering breath, no doubt all sights will be focused on next year’s event.

Click here to see more photographs taken at this event.

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