Spring Series 8 – 18th April 2018

The wind was in a better direction this morning blowing about 10-15 mph from the SW, which gave James more options on setting the course. Unfortunately this Jolly Sailor was not down there and the course was not recorded on the race sheet, but with the wind from the SW it was sure to be a good one!

Pursuit Race
Quite a good turn-out with 14 starters and the early starters Peter S (Byte) and Chris H (Comet) were first back through the line, but Ken (Laser) was going well in 3rd place leading the chasing pack. Karen (Laser), Simon (Blaze), Paul R (Aero), John W (Laser) and Will (Radial) were next through in close company. Richard S and Rick (Lasers) were having a good battle in mid fleet and behind them there was another battle between Adrian (Vago), Bill J (K1) and Sally and Nev (Leader), but looming up behind them was the return of the Galleon! (actually Steve P back in the 505 – but it’s the nearest we’ve got to a ship of the line).
The gun went about halfway through the second lap and the final order was –
1st Simon; 2nd Paul R; 3rd Peter S; 4th Karen; 5th Ken; 6th John W

Handicap Race
John W and Bill J dropped out so we were down to 12 for the second race, which turned out to be a four lap affair.
No surprise when Simon came through in 1st place closely followed by Paul R and these two maintained their leading positions for the whole of the race. Karen was 3rd about 30 seconds back and she was the same distance ahead of Steve P, Richard S and Ken who were very close. About a minute later along came Rick and Will and then Peter S and Adrian and bringing up the rear of the fleet were Chris H and Nev & Sally.(seemed to be some sort of pairs contest!)
On the second lap Nev found the ON switch and moved up three places but this was only change in the order.
On the third lap Richard S passed Karen to move up to 3rd and Steve P passed Ken to move to 5th place. Will came through in 7th place and was the last boat to go through to complete four laps. Nev & Sally, Adrian and Peter S all gained a place moving up to 8th, 9th and 10th respectively and they and Chris H and Rick all received the gun at the end of this lap.
On the last there were no changes in position so the final order on the water was –
1st Simon; 2nd Paul R; 3rd Richard S; 4th Karen; 5th Steve P; 6th Ken

On handicap the first four will keep their positions, but Ken will move up to 5th with Will taking 6th.

Thanks to James and the OOD Team of Cecilia, Chris A, Kate H, Peter D and Tracey T.