Wednesday 21st June Gillette Series 10
Bright sun and 10 mph wind from the South promised a pleasant relaxed sail. Chris H set the first beat to X (just off Tektona), 1s, 4s, 9p, 6s and back through the start.
There were 22 starters and first back though the line was Karen (Laser) followed half a minute later by Hugh (Laser) then Newton (Solo) with Julian W, in another Solo not far behind him. Then there was a slight gap back to Ralph (Laser) in 5th place and then Monica and Amy both in Europes came through together just ahead of Sylvia & Peter (RS200) who were in 8th place with Jeremy (Laser) going well in 9th place. .
At the end of the second lap the first three were unchanged, but there was a lot of passing going on behind these three. Sylvia & Peter had moved up to 4th, Paul H (Laser) had gained ten places to move up to 8th and Mike T (Laser) had moved up four places to 9th. Other movers were Dean & Nick (Vago) who had moved up one place to 10th followed by Chris A (Solo) who was up five places to 11th just ahead of Curtis (Radial) who had dropped two places down to 12th. Further back in the fleet Bob Lovell (Solo) gained two places to 13th and was now just behind Ed & Crew (Feva) who were in a steady 14th place. Dave & Ann (Leader) and Mike C (Wanderer) gained two places to move to 15th and 16th respectively. Tracey (Comet) and William (Feva) had both gained a place and Cecilia was gamely bringing up the rear in a 4.7.
Monica, William and Cecilia retired at the end of this lap.
The third lap was the last and Karen crossed the line well clear of Hugh with Newton further back in 3rd place. Ralph had regained the two places he lost the previous lap to move back to 5th. A number of other boats gained places due to the retirements, but Jeremy having slipped back on the second lap regained four places.
The final positions on the water were –
1st Karen; 2nd Hugh; 3rd Newton; 4th Sylvia & Peter; 5th Ralph; 6th Julian W
On handicap Karen should retain first spot, but it is likely that Ed & Crew (Feva) will move up to second with Newton and Julian W third and fourth in their Solos pushing Hugh and Ralph down to fifth and sixth.
Thanks to Chris H and the OOD Team of Mark H, Phil M and Steve P.