As the fleet of 17 boats, in which it was great to have so many young sailors, prepared for the Mirror Inland Championship, the lake had numerous calm patches which the forecast didn’t instil confidence in many that they would disappear. However, shortly before the scheduled start the wind did settle and fill the lake.
The first start had three boats OCS, of which only one returned, but other starts were all clear. Although the wind swung rhythmically throughout the afternoon, the beats were maintained and there was some close racing throughout the fleet, with positions in different races being shared across several boats.
With the very light forecast for Sunday at risk of scuppering the day’s racing, the OD was keen to try and have an extra race if the wind held, which it did, but some boats opted out of racing it.
Andy and Lily Smith won race 4, with Luke and Tristan Shaw from Budworth 2nd, to secure the same positions on the overall leaders board overnight, with Phil and Oliver Smith 3rd.
Sunday started with the wind matching the forecast with the lake mirror like, but a few clouds moved in together a NE breeze, and then it disappeared, and came back, and disappeared again! It did fill in again about an hour after the scheduled start time, and stayed to enable racing to get underway. As with Saturday, racing was close, and positions kept changing, even on the final beat. Phil and Oliver held their race lead, but wife, and Commodore, Naomi had a stormer snatching 2nd place from Luke and Tristan by less than a foot (in old money). Although brother Andy and Lily lost out slipping from 3rd to 7th, they maintained their overall lead, though Phil and Luke were in close contention, so there was everything to sail for in a final race.
The start line was reset for the final race, but just before the course was displayed, a breeze filled in from the west. The start was moved and the final race was soon underway in another shifting, force 1-2. Phil led from the windward mark, and maintained it to the finish taking the Inland Championship trophy, with Luke 2nd.
As the nights draw in after the summer solstice, the high pressure left us with clear skies and light variable winds.
With less than a week until the longest day, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the temperature has improved and the sun is shining. Add a good force 4 from the SW and you have near perfect conditions for Saturday racing.
A failure to closely watch the flags had only Paul Gannon on the handicap fleet start line, with other stragglers some minutes behind! There were several capsizes, and a couple of subsequent retirements. On handicap Paul came a close 2nd to Rich Critchley in a Solo. Despite not knowing the course, and almost being misguided by Neil, Rich won the afternoon race as well with Hugh 2nd. Neil had been lying 2nd to Hugh, but rounded mark A incorrectly, trying to call Hugh back. It was only when Tim said he should have rounded it to port that he returned, and then capsized, losing two places in the process! Ethan capsized his RS100 with his kite up which he struggled to release the halyard. When he did eventually right the boat, he was shattered and called it a day.
There was a strong fleet of Mirrors and Teras again, and they enjoyed some competitive racing (especially between the Smith brothers) with Bean/Oliver taking the honours. Bean didn’t race the final race which was won by Andy/Lily who won the Orsova Cup.