Gillette Series 10 – 20th June 2018

It was quite a reasonable wind tonight of about 12/13mph with some stronger gusts coming through, but it was coming directly from the West so it gave Chris H a bit of a problem setting a start line. In the end he settled for a flagpole start more or less straight out to X on the buoy line, then 8, 5, 9, 4, 6, 7 and back through the start. There was a new team out tonight in the form of Monica and Dave P in a National 12. In fact the National 12 was Dave’s many years ago and he recently saw it on sale and decide to buy it back, so two old friends were reunited – who said romance was dead. Monica had managed to get some pink colour on the transom and rudder so everyone would know that the Admiral was aboard !

17 starters tonight and Simon (Blaze) was about one minute ahead at the end of the first lap and being chased (some hope) by the Laser pack of Ellen, Karen, Mark B, Richard H, Mike Tr, then the Radials of Mike A and Ralph (although Ralph was on the full rig handicap). About 30 seconds later Dave & Ann (Leader) came through not far ahead of Chris A (Solo – nice to see you back on the water Chris), Curtis (Radial) and Dean & Nick (Vago), who were just ahead of Sally & Stuart (Leader) and Jeremy (Laser). Then bringing up the rear of the fleet were Jemima (Oppie), Chris & Carol (Sport 14) and Dave P & Monica (National 12) just doing their sea trials.

No change in the first four at the end of the second lap but Richard H must have had some trouble as he had been passed by Mike Tr, Mike A and Ralph. No change either in the middle of the fleet, but Sally & Stuart and Jeremy had moved up two places and Chris & Carol had passed Jemima.

The third lap saw no change in position with the first five boats but Richard had got going again and was up two places to 6th. There was no change from 7th to 10th, but Curtis was up two to 11th and there were no other upward movers. Jemima received the finish gun at the end of this lap and Dave P & Monica retired gracefully.

On the fourth lap the first six held their positions although Simon was now five minutes ahead of the second boat. Mike A pulled his Laser on top of him attempting a roll tack (there’s a first and last time for everything!) letting Ralph through to 7th and Dave & Ann to 8th. Curtis was up another place to 10th and Jeremy was up to 11th. Chris A retired on this lap. The latter half of the fleet received the gun at the end of this lap, although there was some confusion as to exactly who was receiving the gun!

At the end of the fifth lap and final lap there had been no further changes in position, so the finishing order was –
1st Simon; 2nd Ellen; 3rd Karen; 4th Mark B; 5th Mike Tr; 6th Richard H

On handicap the first three remain the same, but Jemima moves up to 4th pushing Mark B and Mike Tr down a place.

Thanks to Chris H and the OOD Team of Dave I, David M, Newton, Nigel, Philip M and Susanne.