Gillette Series 18 – 15th August 2018

Gillette 18 – 15th August 2018

With a SW wind of 14-16 mph and veering between SW and SSW, Chris H set the first beat to 9 then 5, 3, 2, 4, 6, 7 and back through the start.

18 starters tonight and Simon B (Blaze) was first back through the line well ahead of Julian B (OK), then came the Lasers of Karen, Ellen, Hugh and Mark. Newton (Solo) was through in 7th place followed by another three Lasers helmed by Ralph, Mike Tr and Rick. The first two-man boat, the Vago of Dean & Nick, crossed the line in 11th place followed by a trio of Leaders led by Nev & Mike, then Dave & Ann and Sally & Stuart. Right behind them were Paul H and Curtis in Lasers with Bill in his K1 and Sam in her Topper bringing up the rear of the fleet. She received the gun at the end of her first lap, but well done for going out in the frisky conditions.

At the end of the second lap Simon was well ahead and Ellen had moved up to 2nd place by passing both Karen and Julian. Mark and Newton had both got past Hugh to move up to 5th and 6th positions and Hugh and Ralph crossed the line abreast of one another. Dean & Nick moved up to 10th by passing Rick, and Curtis gained four places to move up to 12th. There was no change in the order of the Leaders and they were comfortably (well relatively so given the wind conditions!) ahead of Bill.

Crossing the line at the end of the last lap Simon was five minutes clear of Julian B who had regained 2nd place by repassing Ellen. Ralph and Mike Tr had both passed Mark and Newton to finish in 5th and 6th places, but behind them Newton, Mark and Hugh were virtually together crossing the line ! Nev & Mike had gained three places by passing Rick, Curtis and Dean & Nick. Dave & Ann also got past Dean & Nick, but it was a very close thing with only four seconds between them and only another three seconds back to Sally & Stuart.
Apart from the two lads at the front who got away there was some really close racing throughout the fleet.

The positions on the water were –
1st Simon; 2nd Julian B; 3rd Ellen; 4th Karen; 5th Ralph; 6th Mike Tr

On Handicap the first three will keep their positions, but Newton will move up to 4th pushing Karen down to 5th and Ralph to 6th.

Thanks to Chris H and the OOD team of Issy, Jess B, Monica and Simon R.