23rd July Summer Seris 8
With a SW wind of about 10 mph (eventually going up to about 15 mph), the OOD Team (there was no designated SOOD!) set a first beat to 4, then 2, 6, 7, and back through the start.
Pursuit Race
There were 17 starters and we had a mini fleet of Comets this morning with Sally and Nev abandoning their Leaders and joining Chris H. At the end of the first lap the early starters were still ahead with Dave P (Mirror) in 1st place followed by the Comets of Chris H and Nev, but ominously Jon and Karen in Lasers were fast approaching having just got past Dave & Ann (Leader). Will S in his Enterprise was DSQ, presumably he sailed the wrong course, but not sure of this.
At the gun the final positions were –
1st Jon; 2nd Nev; 3rd Karen; 4th Newton & Ellen; 5th Chris H; 6th Sylvia
Handicap Race
The wind had increased considerably for the start and in fact continued to increase throughout the race. Will, Sally and Peter S decided to sit this one out so the fleet was down to 14 starters.
First back through the line was Karen (Laser) followed 30 seconds later by Jon and Richard S both in Lasers, who crossed together. Another 30 seconds elapsed before Sylvia (Laser) came along with Hadey (Radial) not far behind her. Then along came a tight pack led by Chris A (Solo) consisting of Dave & Ann (Leader), Mike A (Laser), Dean & Nick (Vago) and this pack was just ahead of the Comet battle between Nev and Chris H. Behind them Rick (Laser) was ploughing a lonely furrow or should that be a wake and then further back Dave P had his Mirror surfing.
At the end of the second lap the same four boats led with Karen and Jon very close and Richard S and Sylvia well-spaced out (must have had a good Saturday night!). Mike A had gained three places to move up to 5th just ahead of Hadey and everyone else maintained position, apart from Rick who seeking company had caught and passed Chris H. Dean & Nick and Nev meanwhile were in very close company and could not be separated as they crossed the line in a “man age de trois?”
On the third lap the first three remained the same, but Mike A had passed Sylvia to move up one place to 4th. Hadey, Chris A and Dave & Ann continued on in 6th, 7th and 8th places as they had been for most of the race. Nev had come to an amicable separation by pulling out a 20 second lead on the dynamic duo J Boys and two minutes behind them Rick and Chris H were battling on together.
Dave P’s race came to a premature end when he was given the gun at the end of the lap.
As the wind got up then Jon (as usual) got going and turned a 10 second deficit on the previous lap to a one minute lead at the end of the race. Richard S (taking over Rick’s solitary role) crossed the line in 3rd some three minutes behind them but two minutes ahead of Sylvia, who had regained 4th place from Mike A and this was the only change in position throughout the fleet.
Final positions on the water were – 1st Jon; 2nd Karen; 3rd Richard S; 4th Sylvia; 5th Mike A; 6th Hadey.
On handicap the first three should be safe, but Nev should zoom up the placings to 4th with Hadey 5th and Sylvia 6th.
Thanks to the OOD Team of Jan & Paul H, David P and Tony R, who coped admirably in the absence of the SOOD.