Spring Pursuit 1 – March 13th
It was a light breeze for the first race of the 2016 Spring Series and Mike N set the course. Unfortunately this Jolly Sailor was at home looking after the Commander in Chief and the course was not recorded on the race sheet, but I am sure the 16 starters knew where they were going (well most of them anyway!)
Jon (Laser) was first back through the start followed by Peter R in his Enterprise, Chris (Comet), Nev & Sally (Leader) and Newton & Scott(RS200). Steve S (Laser) came through in 6th place followed by a gaggle of closely bunched boats with Adrian (Rooster) 7th, Dave I (Radial) 8th, Mark B (Laser) 9th, Curtis (Laser) 10th and Mick G (Otter) 11th. Dave L (Laser) was slightly further back in 12th and then there was quite a gap back to Peter S (Byte),Alistair, Rick and John W in Lasers.
By the second lap Newton & Scott had moved up three places to 2nd, but the next three boats had kept their relative positions. Steve S had moved past Nev & Sally into 5th place and Mark B had moved up two places to 7th. Dave L had moved up one place to 11th and John W was up to 12th.
At the finish gun there were no further changes, so the final positions were –
1st Jon – Laser; 2nd Newton & Scott- RS200; 3rd Peter R- Enterprise; 4th Chris H- Comet; 5th Steve S- Laser; 6th Nev & Sally- Leader.
What a great mix of boats in the top six !
Spring Handicap 1 – March 13th
Mick G decided to rest his Otter after the Pursuit, so there were 15 starters, but Curtis and Dave I disappeared on the first lap (reasons unknown).
Newton & Scott led at the line but Adrian, Jon and Steve S were not far behind. Next came a group of Lasers with Rick in 5th just ahead of Dave L, Mark B and John W, although Peter S got the same time as John W. Chris H was next in 10th just ahead of Alistair S and Nev & Sally with Peter R strangely lagging behind after his sterling performance in the Pursuit.
By the end of the second lap Adrian was King of the Roost, pushing Newton & Scott down to 2nd, but crossing the line with exactly the same time as Jon. Steve S was still 4th but Dave L had gained a place to 5th. John W was up two places to 6th with Mark B 7th and Rick 8th and Nev & Sally up three places to 9th. Peter R had gained three places to 10th.
After three laps the first five had maintained their positions but Mark had moved up one place to 6th and Alistair S had moved up three places to 9th.Rick and Peter R had both retired, but again reasons unknown.
The only change in position at the gun was that Peter S had moved up one place by passing Alistair.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Adrian; 2nd Newton & Scott; 3rd Jon; 4th Steve S; 5th Dave L ; 6th Mark B.
On handicap the positions will change considerably with Adrian dropping to 4th and Chris and Peter S taking 5th and 6th from the Lasers of Dave and Mark.
Thanks to Mike N and his OOD Team of Mike C, Bill C, Al E and Matt R for running the races.