7th June Gillette Series Race 8
The forecast was for rain with a SW wind of 13 mph at 7 pm dropping to 11 mph by 8 pm, but the wind was actually 13- 15 mph with gusts of over 20!
Dave L set the first beat to 4 then 2, 3, 9, 5, 6 and X (No 7 was on the bank as the anchor had come adrift, so X was positioned fairly close to the main slip)
There were 19 starters and Mark B (Laser) was first back through the line clear ahead of Karen (Laser), Curtis (Radial), Hugh (Laser), Newton (Solo)),Richard H (Laser) and John H (Laser). Then there was a slight gap back to Ralph (Laser, but using a radial rig) and then a bigger gap back to Steve S (Solo) and Franz (Laser). Then there was a full minute before Mike A (Lightning) crossed the line not far in front of Joe (4.7) and Ben (Radial) and then another minute before Sally & Stuart (Leader) came along. There was another large gap before Ed and Jemima turned up in their Oppies and they were just ahead of Mike C (Wanderer) who was well ahead of Jeremy and Paul H in Lasers.
At the end of the second lap Hugh had moved up three places to take the lead with Karen still 2nd and Newton up two places to 3rd. Richard H had gained two places to move up to 4th and John H was up one place to 6th with Franz up three to 7th and Ralph steady in 8th. Ben had got past Joe, but these two and Mike A were having a good battle of their own and kept swapping places. Jeremy and Paul H had passed the two Oppies of Ed and Jemima who were gamely battling on in the windy conditions.
Steve S looked as if he had suffered a gear failure as he came back in with his sail half down and Sally & Stuart and Mike C also retired on this lap.
On the third lap the leading three maintained position, but Mark had regained a place to move to 4th. Franz moved up to 6th and Curtis regained two places to move to 7th. Ben gained a place to move up to 9th by repassing Joe. Ralph retired on this lap and Ed and Jemima received the finish gun at the end of the lap.
At the end of the fourth and last lap Hugh crossed the line in 1st place a full minute ahead of Karen in 2nd with Mark just getting past Newton to take 3rd place. Ben gained another place to move up to 8th and joined Hugh in claiming family bragging rights by finishing ahead of the old man!
Jeremy and Paul H decided to retire on this lap.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Hugh; 2nd Karen; 3rd Mark; 4th Newton; 5th Richard H; 6th Franz
The positions on handicap should be interesting because my rough calculation places Hugh and Newton level, but we will have to see what the results app comes up with! Curtis should also move up to 4th pushing Mark down to 5th.
However there is a surprise in store for the leading boats as although Ed and Jemima finished a lap early it is likely that their corrected times will actually put Ed in 1st place and Jemima in 2nd place!
So well done to Hugh for getting the lead on the second lap and keeping it right to the end of the race and well done to Ed and Jemima for pressing on in challenging conditions.
Thanks to Dave L and the OOD Team of Bob H, Helen, Rob J, Dean J and Ann L (who was pleased not to get wet this week!)