Flying Fifteen (not quite) Team Racing

Due to a multitude of reasons, the normal 20+ entries for this event did not materialise and the team racing was cancelled in favour of straight racing, but for those who did turn out, what a glorious two days of sailing.� The sun was out all weekend and the wind was a southerly force 3-5.� On Saturday, the elite sailors gave the rest of the fleet a 3 minute head start and they all headed to the south end of the lake where Robbie Dawson & Toggle from Bass held the lead going round the windward mark.� They were only overtaken halfway back down the lake when Neil Platt with Richard Rigg (Bolton & West Kirby) managed to get past them and win the race.� Keith Jamieson & Maf Smith (Bass) were holding off the other boats, but lost places when they ran aground.� The second race was held in the bay, but this time no-one got near Robbie & Toggle.� Keith was also holding off the fleet until a last minute change of wind strength and direction allowed some of the other boats to catch up and pip him on the line.

Sunday again saw a race to the south end of the lake, but this time all the boats set off together.� By the time they reached buoy 12 it looked like Neil has the race sown up – but this is Bass!� The wind favoured those at the back of the fleet and they all came round buoy 6 more or less together.� Neil and Adrian Tattersall with Tim Smart (RYA) then took each other high on the reach down to buoy 2, allowing Howard Green & Ian Preston (Leigh & Lowton) to get through into the lead.� There was some tight covering up the next beat, but Howard then overshot the windward mark and dropped back to third.� He nearly took back a place coming to the finish line, but Adrian beat him by a foot.� After more than an hours sailing, all boats finished within a minute of each other

In the final race, the OD again took advantage of the southerly breeze, but this time only sent the boats half way down the lake.� Neil took the lead, but the others were not far behind – Adrian and Howard were less than 10 seconds behind at the end.� Robin and Keith had their own match racing competition with Keith managing to come home first.