This weekend’s racing comprises six races for all fleets with the results calculated on a personal handicap basis. With a fleet of 17 boats, the start line, and rounding of the first few marks, was unusually busy resulting in boats ‘appearing’ unexpectedly and some emergency tacks, so it was important to try to get clear air as soon as possible.
Steve/Elaine led the first race, but personal handicap pushed their result down to 15th place. Only 5 secs on corrected time separated Alan/Sue in their GP, Ken in a Solo, and Jim in a Supernova, finishing 2nd to 4th respectively. Having sailed well in her Mirror, Pam had some close racing throughout the afternoon with Mik, ending the day in pole position with two firsts to count.
Apparently Mik and Pam were so close at one stage that Mik had to do turns after bumping into Pam after she asked for water.
Another 2nd place for Alan in the 2nd race put him 2nd overall overnight. Kath/Glynis won the last race of the day and lie 3rd overall.
The only capsize of the afternoon was by Banter during a gybe and he combined it with a spectacular backward flip out of his boat!
By the time racing started on Sunday the drizzle had moved in. The wind was slightly stronger than Saturday but it was the gusts, combined with dead runs and gybe marks, that kept catching boats out – three capsized at the first gybe mark almost simultaneously! Pam earned another win and had an unassailable lead securing the series with two races to go.
Although the drizzle disappeared after lunch, the morning capsizes had taken their toll, and numbers racing reduced to eight boats. A triangular course meant there was only one gybe mark to contend with, but gusts still challenged the F15s and flattened some of the other boats on the reaches. Peter sailed well in his Supernova in the conditions, winning race 5 and beating Tim/Ian in their F15.
By the final race, there were just six starters and only three finishers, with the honours going to Tim/Ian and giving them 2nd overall ahead of Alan/Sue. Even at just over 30 mins, there were some that felt they had sailed one lap too many. Clearly, there will be many that sleep well tonight!