Cobley Series 6 15th October

With the SOOD missing, Chris kindly stepped up to the mark (well the flagpole) to act as SOOD. There was a good SW wind about 11 mph, which actually increased for the second race. The first beat was down to 4, then on to 3, 1, 5, 8, 6, 7 and back through the start.
 
Pursuit Race
There were 12 starters this morning, 6 Lasers, 3 Solos, 2 Radials and a single Comet. The Comet of Chris H went off at 4.5 minutes followed by the Solos and Radials at 6 minutes and the Laser one minute later. At the end of the lap Chris was still in the lead, but being rapidly caught by the Lasers of Jon and Karen who had just got past the three Solos of Newton, Julian W and Chris A. Ralph (Laser) was next through just ahead of Milo (Radial) who was still well clear of the Lasers of Rick, Richard S and John W who had all caught and passed Cecilia (Radial).
 
At the gun the final positions were –
1st Jon; 2nd Karen; 3rd Newton; 4th Julian; 5th Chris H; 6th Ralph
 
Handicap Race
The wind increased throughout this race resulting in a number of capsizes towards the end.
Before the race started Rick kindly pointed out to Jon that the traveller/horse rope on his Laser was on its last legs. Jon promptly fixed it before going racing. You can guess what happened next – on the first beat Rick’s traveller broke and he was forced to retire  and Jon was first back across the line at the end of the lap!
Karen came through in 2nd place with Newton in 3rd nearly one minute ahead of Richard S in 4th place. Ralph was 5th only just ahead of Julian in 6th. Then there was a tight group with John W leading Milo,  Chris A and Chris H, across the line with Cecilia in the lantern rouge position. (In case anyone gets the wrong idea that is a cycling term for the rider in last position!)
 
At the end of the second lap the order of the first five boats had not changed, but Julian, John W and Chris A had capsized letting Milo through to 6th. Julian managed to get going again and finished 7th with Chris H in 8th, Cecilia 9th and John W 10th.  Chris A retired gracefully or should that be gratefully.
 
The final order on the water was –
1st Jon; 2nd Karen; 3rd Newton 4th Richard S; 5th Ralph; 6th Milo
 
On handicap Newton takes the victory pushing Jon and Karen down to 2nd and 3rd places with Richard S still in 4th.  Chris H moves up to 5th with Ralph 6th.
 
Thanks to the OOD Team of Chris, Dean, Nick and Robbie