Another glorious day, but the wind is blowing, we are looking into the wind and white horses from the clubhouse. There are a few Catapults getting prepared for their open meeting which is being held alongside club racing.
How many boats will be tempted on to the the water? Will it remain, as forecast, like this all weekend?
When it came to the crunch, nine club boats took to the water for the pursuit race, and nine finished. There were only three boats that managed to start on their allotted time – Jo Watkins in a Laser Radial, who lost the lead when he capsized at the gybe mark and finished 3rd. Dave Lawson in a Laser, who took the lead when Jo capsized, and Alex Leonard with Olivia Storey in a 29er who finished 2nd. Many of the rest of the fleet also capsized, but they all enjoyed the conditions enough to make sure they completed the course.
However, the wind strength had taken its toll because there were not as many takers for the second race which was part of a championship long series. Alex and Olivia got off to a flying start but capsized up the first beat, and subsequently retired. Scumper in his Vareo led the rest of the race and won on handicap from Dave Lawson, again in a Laser. Jo Watkins was 3rd and Phil Davenport kept going to finish 4th.
In the evening there was Toga evening with an Eastern bring and eat buffet, and here is some of the winning outfits
Sunday’s sailing didn’t get off the ground. A windy night, continued into the morning with average winds of about 25mph and gusts upto 50mph. There were lulls, and the OD waited until early afternoon to see if it would ease, but it was not to be and racing was abandoned just after 2.30pm.
The forecast for Monday keeps changing, and there is a possibility that sailing will actually take place!
Pizza and bingo/games for all this evening.