11th June Summer Series 3
With a SW wind13-15 mph and gusty Adrian set the first mark as 9, then 6p, 4p, Op (just upwind of Tektona), Xs (near the main slip) and back through the start.
Pursuit Race
There were 18 starters and at the end of the first lap the first three boats were Radials with Sylvia leading Hadey and Curtis, then came the full rig Lasers of John H and Jon C. The first non-Laser was Peter S in a standard rig Byte followed by another two Lasers, Ralph and Richard S. The next boat through was the early starter Chris H in his Comet followed by another eight Lasers! (although some of these were flying radial rigs with Ben the only declared Radial).These were Hugh, Dave L, Ben H, Gareth, Franz, Phil A, Mike A and Ken with Mike C and Dean bringing up the rear of the fleet in Mike’s Wanderer . Rounding 6 Phil A stalled slightly and Ken motoring up behind him struck his transom a glancing blow, Mike A went wide to miss them both, tacked on the buoy line and then tangled with poor Ken who was still sorting himself out on port tack. Ken and Phil both decided to retire as did Mike C & Dean, who came in to do some fine tuning on the Wanderer.
At the gun Jon had come through to take the victory, but Sylvia was still well up in 2nd place with Richard S in 3rd.
Final positions were – 1st Jon; 2nd Sylvia; 3rd Richard S; 4th Curtis; 5th John H; 6th Ralph
Handicap Race
There was a course change for the second race, the new course being 9, 5, 6, X and back through the start. Curtis, Phil, Ken and Ralph decided not to go out for the second race which left 14 starters.
Just after the start Mike A capsized on the buoy line, became detached from his Laser and had to swim after it. In the meantime Chris H taking avoiding action went into irons and the two boats inexorably drifted together and by the time they had disentangled the rest of the fleet were rounding 9.
First back through the line was Jon with a useful lead on Hugh, John H, Franz, and Richard S, who were fairly close together. Dave L and Hadey came through the line together in 6th place with Sylvia only one second behind them. Then there was a slight gap back to Ben and Gareth in 9th and 10th places who were followed by the only two man boat out today Mike C and Dean in a newly tined Wanderer! Peter S followed them through and bringing up the rear were Mike A and Chris H.
At the end of the second lap there was no change in the leading three, but Richard S was up to 4th and Dave L up to 5th with Hadey 6th and Sylvia up one place to 7th. Gareth had moved up two places to 8th and Peter S was up two to 10th.
On the third lap John H, Richard S and Dave L had all moved up one place by passing Hugh and Sylvia had gained another place to move up to 6th. The only other movers was Mike A up three places to 9th and Chris H had retired.
The fourth lap saw no change in the positions of the leading four boats, but Sylvia was up another place to 5th, but there no other movers in the right direction!
At the end of the fifth lap the first three remained the same, but yes you have guessed it, Sylvia moved up another place to 4th! Hugh gained a place back to move to 5th and Franz gained two places to move to 6th. Dave L came to grief rounding 6 and retired after getting out of the bushes! Mike A, Peter S and Mike C & Dean all gained a place after Gareth capsized. At the end of the lap Peter S, Mike C & Dean, Ben and Gareth all received the gun.
At the end of the final lap there was no change in the positions of the first three, but Franz had gained another two places to move up to 4th.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Jon; 2nd John H; 3rd Richard S; 4th Franz; 5th Hugh; 6th Sylvia.
On handicap Jon and John H retain their places, but Sylvia should move up to 3rd pushing Franz and Richard S down with Hadey leapfrogging Hugh to take 6th.
Thanks to Adrian and the OOD Team of Bill C, Stephen G, Richard K and Ferdinando.