Coniston 9th July 2005

Leigh & Lowton Juniors went travelling -
All became campers at Coniston

Leigh & Lowton Junior Travellers decided to make a weekend of it for the Coniston NWJTT meeting on the weekend of 9th/10th July 2005. Camping for two nights with the sailing in between was the arrangements and the weather decided to play ball as well. Arrivals at the site began about 7.00pm and as most people had eaten before leaving or on the way so after pitching tents, the adults decided it was time for a beer and glass of chilled wine. All except the Baldwins who decided that the Friday night tradition of BBQing should not be forgotten - they found themselves still cooking after it got dark!!!.

Tent city was established by the Green party who found a section of campsite not already occupied (it was sooo crowded, no organisation on site just roll up and pitch.) Steve had booked for us all and he was last to arrive (what's new) so the site owners said 'you must be Mr Slayen!!' on his arrival. When we all arrived they hadn't really got a clue. We discovered later that there was a group area further down the site, which I think we'll go for next year. Anyhow there was no way the Stott 'semi' would fit with the rest of the group so they headed for the Redesmere campus - they had carefully parked cars - so after a bit of shuffling and planning permission had been cleared the palace was pitched.

Saturday morning came and we were all greeted with dripping tents (no not rain but condensation) and brilliant sunshine. Pity about the wind. The OOD decided to postpone for a while and the fleets finally got away about 11.30am with twenty four boats in the Handicap Class, LLSC making up eight of these. A good triangular course and, as the wind picked up, the Lasers streamed ahead to take the first five places. Sophie Stott came in with a creditable second Topper, 7th overall. The Oppies sailed a shorter course with four boats contesting. Chris Barnes streamed away from the rest to take the gun and his first win ever!

Lunch Hotdog and a mars bar £1, entry fee only £3

After lunch, the course was changed slightly to allow for the wind direction changing and the fleet was away with Sophie leading the Toppers. At one point she lost the lead to Andrew Dawson from Winsford but fought back and took the gun as leading Topper, finishing second overall - Great Stuff!!!. Chris Barnes was hoping to repeat the success of the morning but struggled with some of the mark rounding and found that he was disqualified for not rounding correctly. By this time the temperatures were getting close to the thirties and LLSC juniors decided it was time for their traditional dip in the lake. With a jetty providing a suitable jumping platform they were all in including youngsters from Redesmere & Winsford - Howard Green was the first senior (or should that be master/grand master?) to take a cooling dip in his shorts & sunglasses!!.

The wind decided to pick up for the start of the last race and the fleet set off for a long beat up the lake to the first mark. As the boats disappeared behind the headland there was a lot of nailbiting going on amongst the parents. As the boats reappeared the Lasers were again leading with the Toppers becoming well spread out - and then the wind dropped! The OOD had posted a course of three laps on the board. In the end the course was shortened to one lap with the Topper tailenders struggling to finish. Sophie finished 5th in this race with the two Andrews (Price and Green) having their own private race up the last beat with Andrew Green taking the finish gun first. Chris Barnes struggled in the light winds and finished second having had to go back and re-round a mark.

Loudhailers were needed to get them out of the water for prize giving outside on the hill, the prizes were split between the U14's and U17's. Katlyn Green found that she had managed a good fourth place in the under 14's and Sophie Stott was awarded a magnificient second place to Alastair Mitchell from Winsford with Luke Pitt coming third. This result will boost Sophie's place in the overall rankings as she has shown a steady improvement throughout the season. It was remarked from the Coniston OD's that the standard of sailing was very good and has shown their small number of juniors what can be achieved.

In the Oppies Chris Barnes came second overall with A. Naylor from the home club taking first place.

With the wind dropping off even more, the Dad's race was cancelled in favour of drinks from the bar and Pimms (provided by Sarah Murphy back at camp). The kids went swimming again and the evening finished with a barbeque back at camp, rounders & football, all the adults were saying that this spectating was so-o-o tiring (did anyone dare to try puck thrusting? (a skill learn't at the recent LLSC Family Fun Evening)).

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