National champions, Dougal Scott and Ruth Johnson, decided to swap roles for the weekend, but still showed the fleet the way to go at West Kirby on 15-16 August, winning both the first and second races of the open meeting.

Steve Cumley/Rachel Jones battled with Helen Woodward/Paul Noble in both races with Cumley/Jones taking second in the first race and Woodward/Noble taking second in the second race. The final race of the day again saw Johnson/Scott leading at the first mark. Cumley/Jones sailed through them on a run, but then gave it away by hitting the windward mark. Johnson/Scott showed their inexperience the wrong way round and let Cumley/Jones and Tim Lawrence/Christine Elles-Toner through to finish in that order. Johnson/Scott were ruled OCS, leaving Woodward/Noble to take third.

Sunday saw very close racing on the marine lake. Scott/Johnson swapped back and took the first race of the day from Cumley/Jones and Woodward/Noble. Cumley/Jones did their sums and calculated they needed Scott/Johnson to finish at least sixth in the last race. They led at the first mark and then used every trick they knew to chase Scott/Johnson down to eighth. However, they both proved too quick for the field and worked their way up. Woodward/Noble had come through to first followed by Lawrence/Elles-Toner. Cumley misjudged a mark rounding and hit Scott’s transom, allowing Scott/Johnson to sail free. They climbed up to third with Cumley/Jones fourth, giving Scott/Johnson the meeting.

Overall Results

1st Ruth Johnson Dougal Scott South Staffs SC

2nd Steve Cumley Rachel Jones Peterborough SC

3rd Helen Woodward Paul Noble Rock SC

4th Tim Lawrence Christine Elles-Toner West Kirby SC

5th Dan Smith Amy Richardson Lymington Town SC