Summer Series 11 – 12th August 2018

This morning there was a fine drizzle which became more persistent as the morning went on. The wind was about 13 mph from the SW but this gradually got stronger with gusts and sudden changes in direction. Mark set the first beat down to 4, then 9, 5, 2, 6, 7 and back through the start.

Pursuit Race
With a stronger wind the Lasers of Karen and Mike Tr were through to the lead by the end of the first lap, but Nev and Chris H in their Comets were still hanging on to 3rd and 4th places with Dave & Anne (Leader) in 5th and Mike A (Lightning) in 6th. At the gun Karen still led from Mike Tr , but Newton & Ellen (RS200) were up to 3rd place with Dave & Ann in 4th place and Nev in 5th place. From 6th to 9th was very close and difficult to judge as boats were on different tacks after rounding No 5, but the contenders were Mike A, Ralph, Adrian and Chris H.

Handicap Race
All 12 boats from the first race stayed on the water for the second, but the wind was getting friskier and unreliable which resulted in a number of capsizes. Alistair and Nev were the first to go in, at the same time up near 4, after a sudden wind change. Ellen & Newton led at the end of the first lap but they were not far in front of Karen with Adrian (Rooster) about 30 seconds further back in 3rd place. Mike Tr and Ralph came through fairly close together in 4th and 5th places with William B in another Laser in 6th place. Dave & Ann (Leader) in 7th were about one minute behind them and one minute ahead of Mike A (Lightning) with Chris H (Comet) in 9th and Sam (Topper) in 10th. Alistair and Nev decided to retire.

On the second lap the first two maintained their places, but Ralph had moved up to 3rd after capsizes by Mike Tr and Adrian, but they recovered well to cross the line in 4th and 5th places. William B was still in 6th but he had also suffered a capsize! Dave & Ann crossed in 7th, but Chris had got past Mike A after Mike capsized. Sam was still plugging along at the rear of the fleet and she received the finish gun at the end of this lap.

At the end of the last lap Ellen & Newton crossed the line in 1st place but Ralph had gained another place to finish 2nd ahead of Karen in 3rd. Dave & Ann went for a dip but got going again, but Mike A capsized again gybing round 2 and impaled both mast and boom in the mud!

The final order on the water was –
1st Ellen & Newton; 2nd Ralph; 3rd Karen; 4th Mike Tr; 5th Adrian; 6th William B

On handicap no change in the first four, but Chris H moves up to 5th with Dave & Ann up to 6th.

Thanks to Mark B and the OOD Team of David M, Dean, Gary W and Mark D.