Despite a healthy forecast, the wind didn’t look at all promising as sailors prepared their boats, as the occasional shower seemed to kill whatever zephyrs there were.
With some breeze filling in from the southern end of the lake, the OD set out to determine a suitable course. As the forecast SW direction seemed to be settling in, the port pin was laid only to find a NW wind was more appropriate for the starboard end! The line was reset for a middle of road W wind, and it worked!
With his crew incapacitated again, Neil Campbell raced a Laser Radial, got a flying start, led the fleet for the first lap and promptly capsized. James/Jenny in their GP then took the lead only to be passed by Mike/Jack in a Graduate when the wind eased, however, James regained the lead on the final lap.
The rain stayed clear for the racing, and the courses offered some good planing reaches. The occasional shifts caught out Nigel/Glynis while beating, causing a capsize, and subsequent retirement.
William in a Tera was on a high after being finished first ahead of mum Emily, but opted to quit while ahead, retiring on the first beat of the next race. AJ/Sue’s spinnaker was reluctant to come down losing them a bit of ground, though not a place. Gear failure resulted in Ian retiring his Solo, leaving just four boats to fight it out. Apparently Sue’s guidance to AJ on one beat, was not heeded, resulting in a collision with Neil, and the need to do a 720!
Sunday started a little strange with various sailors turnin up on autopilot for a 1130 race, though others had read the sailing programme which stated a 1230 start. While waiting many could not fail to notice the forecast SE wind creating white horses on the eastern side of the lake, and totally different N-NW airs on te western shore!
The OD found the steadiest wind on the eastern shore, though most of the white horses had dissipated, so set a beat from 4 to 6. Richard in a Solo was caught out by the differing winds on the way to the start, capsized and returned to shore before starting. The wind/swell increased as the fleet progressed up the first beat, and Sue soon persuaded AJ to head home, Val/Ken soon followed suit, as did Neil in his Laser, leaving three boats battling the elements. Dave/Lynn completed the first lap in just over 10 mins, but it was quite a while before Paul completed the lap, especially after capsizing just before the leeward mark. As Richard in the remaining Laser had retired at the first gybe mark, and it was clear Paul wouldn’t be attempting a second lap, the race was shortened, much to his, and Dave/Lynn’s, relief!
No interest in having a second race… There was a challenge for the committee boat raising the anchor which was well lodged on some lake bed object. Fortunately the rescue crew came to the rescue!