16th April Spring Series 7
With a 10 mph and freshening West wind Bob set the first beat to 5, then 9, 4, 2, 6, 8 and back through the start. He was a bit short handed as only two of the OOD team turned up, Issy and Jeremy T, but Issy phoned son Ross and he turned up trumps by coming out and helping Bob to run the race.
It was good to see the return of Karen from her winter migration and to see the reappearance of Dave P and Phil A.
Pursuit
There were 16 starters and first away Chris (Comet) was still ahead at the end of the first lap, but Jon (Laser) was already up to 2nd place with second away Peter S (Byte II) hanging on to 3rd, but being caught by Karen (Laser), Paul R (Aero 7) and Richard S (Laser), who had all caught and passed Mike A (Radial).
Next along came Ralph and Hugh in Lasers and Sylvia using a Radial rig followed by Dean & Nick (Vago), Franz, Phil and Rick all in Lasers, then Adrian (Vago – single handed) and Alistair S (Laser).
By the end of the second lap Paul had come through to take the lead with Jon still 2nd and Karen up to 3rd. The other movers (in the right direction were Richard up one place to 5th, Ralph up two places to 6th, Phil up two place to 11th and Adrian up one place to 14th.
At the finish gun the final positions were –
1st Paul – Aero; 2nd Jon – Laser; 3rd Karen – Laser; 4th Richard S – Laser; 5th Chris – Comet; 6th Ralph – Laser.
Handicap
For the second race Franz and Phil dropped out, but the fleet was joined by Dave P in a Mirror. There was a slight course change with No 1 being used as the second mark in place of No 9.
First back through the line was Karen just ahead of Jon with Richard and Paul not far behind them.
Then there was a slight gap back to Hugh in 5th place with another gap back to Sylvia in 6th. Ralph came through in 7th place ahead of Adrian, Chris H, Mike A and Peter S. Further back Rick, Dean & Nick and Alistair were having a good battle with Dave P bringing up the rear of the fleet.
By the end of the second lap Jon had taken the lead and Paul had moved up to 2nd pushing Karen down to 3rd. Further back Mike A had gained two places by passing Adrian and Peter S and these three were having fun contesting 8th spot. Behind them Rick had got past Chris H and Dean & Nick had taken Alistair S. Dave P retired on this lap.
On the third and last lap there were some dramatic changes at the head of the fleet as Karen capsized and retired and Paul sailed the wrong course and also retired. Jon crossed the line well ahead of Richard S in 2nd place with Hugh further back in 3rd. As a consequence of Karen and Paul’s demise everyone moved up two places, so the only real changes in position were Adrian and Chris H who both gained another place.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Jon – Laser; 2nd Richard S – Laser; 3rd Hugh _ Laser; 4th Sylvia – Radial; 5th Ralph – Laser;
6th Adrian – Vago
On handicap Jon and Richard should retain their places but Sylvia should leapfrog Hugh to take 3rd with Ralph still 5th, but Chris H moving up to 6th
Thanks to Bob and the OOD Team of Issy and Jeremy and a special thanks to Ross who turned out at the last minute.