The wild winds as forecast didn’t come to fruition, nor did the 10mph breeze! OD Mark Ninnim found the swinging winds challenging (as were his ‘helpers’ in the committee boat!), but he got all three races in in fluctuating winds.
Tim Knowles got off to a flying start with his new sails, but he slipped back and Mike Fairlamb went on to win both the 1st and 2nd races, in which Tim and Vall Bell each shared a 2nd and a 3rd. Ah ha, well that was the case until it was pointed out that the series should be calculated on a personal handicap basis!
John and Janis Halliday managed to break away from Mike Fairlamb in the 2nd race only to lose ground by sailing to the wrong mark! However, it all came together in the 3rd race which they won from Neil by more than 175 secs.
Mike and Kayla used a spare day to practice in a GP before next weeks inland championships
Sunday started cool and continued that way! The northerly breeze eased at the end of the first race, so the fleet came ashore in the hope it would pick up for the final two races of the series.
John and Janis Halliday, having secured another win, are in a strong position, but Neil Garrison could potentially steal their thunder.
The wind settled in more from the NE for the afternoon racing. Mike and Val swapped crews for the final races, but it did not stop them having some match racing situations, and had the OD been requested to witness it is unlikely he would have helped Mike’s cause!
There were more runs in the afternoon, which worked against John and Janis who secured and 3rd and 4th to win the series. Neil Garrison with a 6th and 1st closed the gap on John, but finished 2nd overall.
Alan Jones had Peter as a front seat driver in the Kestrel and had some good racing finishing 3rd overall. Val Bell finished 4th.
As mentioned earlier, the GP Inlands are being held at the club next weekend.