Gillette Series 1 18th April 2018

It was a great start to the Wednesday evening series with the sun out and a temperature of 24° C and a light wind from the SE. Dave L used an Island Start with the first mark as 1, then 3, 2, 5 and back through the start.

There were 18 starters and returning winter migrant Karen was first back though the line followed by Ellen, both in Lasers. Steve S switching from Aero to Solo came through in 3rd place with Hadey in her Radial behind him in 4th spot. (come on lads – three girls in the top four!)
Next along came Ralph and Richard H (Lasers) followed by the Jones boys in the Vago and Newton going Solo (he should have stuck with Ellen!). Rick (Laser) was just ahead of Chris A (Solo) with Bob L in another Solo trying to catch him. Then slightly further back there was a gaggle of mixed craft with Mike T and Alistair in Lasers, Curtis (Radial), Tracey (Comet), Sally & Stuart (the other winter migrant) in a Leader and Paul H in his Supernova.
Monica (another winter migrant) had signed on, but obviously decided a cocktail in the sun was a better idea.

The second lap was very pleasant, but none of the first nine boats deigned to pass one another! Further back Curtis gained two places and Alistair one, but they were the only movers.

On the third lap there was a dramatic change at the front with Ellen snatching the lead from Karen. This impetus did not transfer to the next six boats who remained in their current positions. Chris A did gain two places, Mike T gained three and Paul H made up four ! Tracey T retired on this lap and joined Monica on the veranda.

By the end of the fourth and last lap Karen had retaken the lead and Ralph and Newton had moved up to 4th and 5th by getting past Hadey.

The final positions on the water were –
1st Karen; 2nd Ellen; 3rd Steve S; 4th Ralph; 5th Newton; 6th Richard H

On handicap the first three remain the same, but Newton moves up one place to 4th with Ralph 5th and Hadey moving up to 6th.

Thanks to Dave L and the OOD Team of Helene W, Karen A, Mike C, Colin H and Pablo