20th October Cobley 7
Well what a difference a week makes, no wind last week and a 14 – 18 mph Westerly this week. Chris A set a long beat down to No 3 then across to 2, up to 4 and a run down to 8, a gybe into a reach across to 6 with a nice gybe round this mark and back up to 3. A good course for a windy day.
Two Mirrors set off right on the start gun, Gordon P in one and young Joe & William in the other. After 13 minutes Hugh set off in his Byte followed by Mike A (Lightning) 2 minutes later, with Mike C (Solo) and Nev and Sally (Leader) 1 minute after that and Newton & Ellen (Laser 200) another minute back. . Two minutes later the 10 strong Laser pack set out with Adrian setting out 3 minutes behind them in his Vago. Finally Steve P in the 505 started 10 minutes behind Adrian.
First back through the start was Gordon going well in the Mirror followed by Nev & Sally then Mike A and Hugh behind the Leader. At this point Newton had caught Mike C with David C in the first of the Lasers next. Joe & William were just ahead of the chasing Laser pack. Adrian had come to grief in the Vago, not all that surprising with all that sail area in a blow like that !
On the second lap, Joe & William decided to retire and the Lasers relentlessly moved up through the fleet with David and Jon C enjoying a family squabble towards the front.
On the third lap Gordon decided discretion was the order of the day and retired and after a capsize Hugh decided the same. Alistair’s boom came clean off the gooseneck and he was struggling in the wind to get it back in place. He actually managed to fix it and carry on, but shortly afterwards capsized. However showing indomitable spirit he got going again and persevered to the finish.
In fact all of the remaining fleet made it to the final gun. It got very frisky towards the end of the race and Mike C decided to take an early bath when gybing round 8 with only about 5 minutes to the finish then Mike A demonstrated the death roll on his way back to shore after the race had finished !.
The final positions were 1st David C, 2nd Jon C, 3rd Newton & Ellen