Gillette Series 4 10th May

The wind was 8- 10 mph, but coming from an awkward direction E to ESE, so Chris A used a Committee Boat start with  X as the first mark (opposite the flagpole but in the middle of the lake), then back up to 5, 9, 2, 3, 4 and back through the start.                   
 
There were 20 starters and first back through the line was Karen (Laser) who led for all three laps of the race and steadily pulled away from Newton (Solo) who in turn was well ahead of Mark (Laser) and these three maintained their positions for the whole of the race.
On the first lap Monica (Europe) came through close behind Mark with Rick (Laser) further back in 5th place with Sylvia & Peter (RS200) in 6th. Then came the three Lasers of Richard H, Mike T and John H with Paula in close company in her Radial. Behind Paula, Paul H (Supernova) was leading a close group consisting of Dean & Nick (Vago), Chris S (Laser – in his first outing of the year)), Jeremy T (Laser), Will S (Enterprise – good to see another Ent on the lake), Sally & Mike C (Leader – yet another new crew for Sally!) and Ben H (Topper), then slightly further back were the Oppies of Jemima and Edward sandwiching Robin L in his Comet Duo.
 
On the second lap the only movers were Sally & Mike up four places to 12th, Will up two places to 13th and Robin up one place. At the end of this lap Monica came in to retire from her 5th place for an early G & T !
 
At the end of the third and last lap the first five boats had maintained station, but John H was up three places to 6th with Richard H and Mike T still 7th and 8th.  Sally & Mike had gained another three places to move to 9th and Will was up another place to 12th and Chris S had regained two places to 13th.
 
The final placings on the water were –   
1st Karen; 2nd Newton; 3rd Mark; 4th Sylvia & Peter; 5th Rick; 6th John H
 
On handicap Karen and Newton should keep their 1st and 2nd places, but Edward could move up to 3rd with Jemima 4th with Mark down to 5th and Sylvia & Peter down to 6th.
 
Thanks to Chris A and the OOD Team of Mike A, Ann, Claire, Helene and Graham.