Spring Series 9 – 29th April 2018

It was quite cold this morning about 7 °C, but with a NNE wind of 13-15 mph felt even colder. Mike A used an Island Start with a first beat to X (in the middle of the lake about level with the usual flag pole) then 5p, 2s, 4p, 3p and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
There were 12 starters and it was good to see another young sailor, Cassian, joining the racing fleet. At the end of the lap the earlier starters Peter S (Byte), Chris H (Comet) and Steve S (Solo) were 1,2 and 3 and about one minute ahead of the chasers. These were led by Newton & Ellen (RS200) followed closely by Karen (Laser), Simon (Blaze), Richard S (Laser but using a Radial rig) and Sally & Nev (Leader). Then there was a bit of a gap back to Jon (Laser) and a bigger gap back to Jeremy (Laser) and bringing up the rear of the fleet were young Cassian (Byte) and Marcin (Laser).
Unfortunately Cassian capsized before the end of the race, but he did well to give it a go in the brisk cold conditions. The gun went about halfway through the second lap and the finishing order was –
1st Simon; 2nd Steve S; 3rd Peter S; 4th Newton & Ellen; 5th Karen; 6th Richard S

Handicap Race
The fleet was down to 10 for the second race and the wind increased which resulted in a number of capsizes, but everyone got going again and finished the race.
At the end of the first lap Simon was well ahead of the rest. Jon came through in 2nd place not far ahead of Ellen & Newton, Karen, Steve and Richards S, the latter two crossing the line together.
There was quite a gap before Chris H and Nev & Sally also crossed the line together. Then two minutes elapsed before Peter S crossed the line just ahead of Jeremy.

On the second lap the first three boats maintained the same order, but the gaps between then increased slightly. Steve S overtook Karen and Richard S moved up two places to 4th by overtaking both of them. Further back Nev & Sally had overtaken Chris to move uo to 7th.

By the end of the third lap the three leaders remained the same, but Karen had regained 4th place by retaking Steve and Richard, and Chris H had regained 7th from Nev & Sally.
At the end of the lap Chris, Nev & Sally, Peter S and Jeremy all received the gun.

On the fourth and last lap there were no changes in position and the final order on the water was –
1st Simon; 2nd Jon; 3rd Ellen & Newton; 4th Karen; 5th Steve S; 6th Richard S.

On handicap the only change will be Steve leapfrogging Karen to take 4th spot.

Thanks to Mike A and the OOD Team of Adele C, Gareth D, Gary B, Jerome C, Ken P and Will D, who all turned up well before the race and were most efficient.