As the hosepipe ban continues, the lake is filling up – not because water is being saved but due to the amount of rain!!

The day started windy with intermittent showers, but the wind eased during the prolonged start sequence for the pursuit race! The lack of Mirrors meant the other fleets had an undue wait. Even with the long wait, Scumper managed to be several minutes late in his Vareo. Mike and Kayla quickly broke away and won the race with Tim and Ian 2nd.

The 2nd race was fleet racing – no-one in either fleet was particularly pushing hard for the start line! Scumper had a clear win from Jim Christie in the handicap fleet, while Mike beat Tim in the F15s.

Despite there being strong winds all around, the conditions were unexpectedly sailable. However, there were not many takers, presumably because of the poor forecast.

Mike and Kayla led the fleet, followed by Toggle in his Vareo, but Mike and Eric kept on the pace and were never far behind. On handicap Mike’s F15 beat the Mike’s GP.

In the afternoon race, the course had a couple of reaches that proved exhilarating when the gusts came through. Joe Watkins, thinking the wind had eased over lunch, opted to take out the Laser with a full rig, which proved a little too much on occasions as he had several capsizes, but carried on to the finish.

This time it was Mike Cowan that was in close contention with Mike Moore.� Mike Moore held his position on handicap and leads the series overall.

As the hosepipe ban kicks in in some parts of the county, the rain came down. However, for a change, at least it was warm rain!

The winds were blustery all afternoon, but the straightforward triangular course led to some exciting sailing, some very hairy gybes, and several capsizes.

In the handicap fleet, Steve and Ruth in the Merlin finished 1st on the water and on handicap from Scumper in his Vareo. In the second race, Steve got off to a good start, but a wineglass spinnaker led to a capsize and his demise. William and Elaine in an RS400 finished 1st on the water but were beaten on handicap by Scumper.

In the F15s, Mike and Kayla won the 1st race from Tim and Ian. Ian had a better start in the 2nd race, and was leading when Mike retired when a fairlead pulled out.

Mike and Eric led the GPs, but a nosedive capsize led to their demise and Tim and Martin winning the race.

John Telford beat Mik Chappell in both of the Mirror races.

Scumper topped the chart in the capsize stakes with four capsizes, all well recovered from. Mike Fairlamb was sort of next having struggled to right his boat after capsizing taking down the spinnaker, he capsized another couple of times before limping home to shore. Then Steve was next with a couple of capsizes – both deliberate he claimed!!

Although it should be sunny tomorrow, higher winds are forecast again, so will we get any races in?

The high winds must have put a few people off this week as the turnout of seven starters was surprisingly low

While Luke Howarth masters the Saturday Series, Ethan Dawson has taken the lead in the Sunday Series. Not sure what Harry did to secure his disqualification!

Youth Squad Update

Adam Savage from the RYA came to give a days training for the Youth Squad on June the 12th. Luckily many of the mornings trainees stayed on as only Ethan Dawson from the Youth Squad made it. Never mind, this means that Ethan will have the upper hand on the start line now! Adam went through the starting procedure over and over and coached the kids on the water. Judging by the smiles and screams we heard we think they enjoyed it!

It was pleasing to see that some of the trainees came back for more the week after and joined in on the Youth Squad racing so that there was a fleet of six toppers out in shifty wind conditions which meant the OD Robin Dawson had his hands full.