Gillette Series 21 31st August 2016
Ellen was standing in for Newton who had absconded on holiday! With a good 12 mph Westerly wind she set a first beat to 4 then back to 9p, 5s, 6s, 7s and back through the start.
There were 18 starters tonight which was a bit better than recent weeks. Mark B (Laser) was leading on the first lap, but only just ahead of Curtis (Radial), Monica (Europe) and Hadey, back from her big boat sailing, in her 4.7.Then there was a slight gap back to Dave & Ann in the first Leader and a bigger gap back to Rick (Laser).
On the second lap Monica retired from 3rd place and Rick gained three places to move up to 3rd with Dave & Ann moving up to 4th. There was close racing throughout the fleet and this could be seen by Franz gaining six places to move to equal 5th with Hadey. Further back Julian (Solo) and Mike A (Lightning) were trading places and Paul H (Supernova) and Sally & Mike C (Leader) moved from 12th and 13th to 7th and 8th respectively! Bob (Solo) had also gained a place by just squeezing past Alistair (Laser). At the back of the fleet Amy (Comet) and Tracey (Leader) were battling for family honour with Amy just ahead, but Tracey retired at the end of the lap.
At the end of the third lap the leading five boats maintained their positions, but had spread out slightly.Sally & Mike C had moved up to 6th place with Paul H 7th and Richard H gaining three places was up to 8th.
On the fourth and last lap Mark B retired from the lead, presumably he suffered a gear failure, and Amy also retired, reason unknown. Curtis crossed the line in 1st place with Rick a clear 2nd well ahead of Richard H who had stormed up to 3rd place. The other movers on the last lap were Paul H who gained two places up to 5th, Franz who gained three places up to 6th and Mike A and Mike T who both gained three places up to 8th and 10th.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Curtis; 2nd Rick; 3rd Richard H; 4th Dave & Ann; 5th Paul H; 6th Franz
On handicap the first two will keep their positions, but Hadey should move to 3rd with Dave & Ann still 4th, Mike A up to 5th and Sally & Mike C up to 6th.
However the headlines of the night are definitely –
BIG ONION TAKES GOLD AND THE NEW TREASURER RUNS AWAY WITH THE SILVER
If you don’t understand this ask Curtis if he will show you his whopper (and you should see the size of his pumpkins !!)
Thanks to Ellen and the OOD Team of Bill and Peter C and Martin W.