18th January Frostbite 9
With a North wind about 8 mph, Peter R and team set a first beat up to 6, then down to 2, up to 4 then 5 down to 9 and back through the start. It was a tricky choice which end of the line to choose, the far pin had more wind, but the bank end was probably nearer to 6 in a straight line.
19 boats started and it looked like the far pin was the better choice, although Newton & Ellen (Laser 2000) did well starting from the middle of the line.
There was a certain amount of turmoil as a large number of boats attempted to round 2 at the same time but they seemed to sort themselves out on the way up to 4 !
First back through the line were David C then Mark B in Lasers. It was good to see Mark back on the water after a little break. Newton& Ellen came through in 3rd, very closely followed by the Lasers of Adrian and Jon then Ian C (Supernova). Sylvia (Laser) was next, going well just in front of Steve S (Laser) and Steve P (505). Rod B (Laser) and Neville (Leader) came through together in 10th and 11th with Curtis (Laser) in close attendance in 12th place. There was then a slight gap to James P (Laser), Mike C (Solo) and Andy B (Laser) followed by Mike A (Laser) who had suffered a slight problem rounding 9 when he discovered his tiller was no longer attached to his rudder! Not far behind Mike were Hadey (4.7), Alistair (Laser) and William in his Topper.
At the end of the second lap the two leaders were the same but Ian had moved up to 3rd. Steve P had moved up from 9th to 6th, Curtis had got past Neville, Andy B had got past Mike C, Mike A had moved up from 16th to 13th and Alistair had passed Hadey. All the other boats maintained station.
The end of the third and last lap saw David cross the line in 1st place; Ian was now 2nd and Steve P 3rd. Others gaining places on this last lap were Jon C moving up from 7th to 5th, Neville who had repassed Curtis and James who had repassed Mike A on the run down to 9.
The final positions on the water were 1st David C, 2nd Ian C and 3rd Steve P; on handicap the first two are safe but Steve P will lose his 3rd place to Mark B.
The other movers on handicap will be Newton & Ellen who should take 4th, Neville who should get 7th, Hadey 8th and Mike C 9th.