Cobley Series 2 13th September
With an E wind, but variable both in direction and strength, Mike N had a tricky job setting the start line and used Tektona with a beat down to 6 then 8, 5, 2, 3 and back through the start.
Traditionally the Cobley was a 90 minute pursuit, but it had been decided to use the Summer Series format of a 35 minute Pursuit Race followed by a 45 minute Handicap Race.
There were 20 starters for the Pursuit Race and Ellen & Newton (RS 200) were first back through the start line followed by Hugh (Byte), Richard S (Laser), Adrian (Rooster) and Curtis and Mark B in Lasers. There was quite a mixed fleet this morning with eight Lasers, the two Toppers of William and Joe, Chris H (Comet), Hadey (4.7), Peter R (Enterprise), Nev single handed in his Leader, Stan (Pico), Steve P (505) and Mike A (Lightning).
At the finish gun Ellen & Newton were still in 1st place with 2nd Richard S, 3rd Adrian, 4th Hugh, 5th Curtis, 6th Neville.
Everyone stayed on for the Handicap Race and at the start three boats jumped the gun and were over the line.
This time Richard S was first back through the line with Newton & Ellen 2nd, Mark 3rd, Adrian 4th, Steve P 5th and Curtis 6th. Stan decided one lap was enough for him. Neville took a chance by squeezing inside Hadey at No 6 and got a right telling off from her and he decided that he had to do penalty turns or never hear the last from her.
Richard and Newton & Ellen retained their leading positions to the end, but on the second lap Peter R was up to 3rd. Hugh must have got the message that he was one of the OCS offenders and retired.
Towards the back of the fleet Rick decided to take Mike out by ramming him twice and then had to do penalty turns under instruction from Hadey ! At the end of the second lap William and Joe received the finish gun with William taking the Topper honours on this occasion.
At the end of the final lap the first three boats had maintained their positions, but Steve P had moved up to 4th, David C, Adrian and Rick all gained a place on the last lap. Poor Neville finished the race only to discover that he was one of the boats over the line at the start. The other boat was actually Adrian but he rounded and restarted avoiding DSQ.
The final positions on the water were 1st Richard; 2nd Newton & Ellen; 3rd Peter R, 4th Steve P; 5th Mark B; 6th Curtis.
On Handicap the first three retain their positions but Chris H should move up to 4th.
Thanks to Mike N and the OOD Team Sally, Issy, James and John W.