Commodore’s Cup Race 2 – 20th April 2022
With a Northish wind about 10 mph, SOOD Ralph set the first beat to A (between 8 and 5), then 5, B (near 9), 4 and back through the start.
Mike T/Laser got pushed out at the start line and relived his frustration with a mild execration referring to the nether regions! First across the line was James C/RS300 followed a minute later by Steve S/Blaze then 30 seconds behind him were the Lasers of Darren, Karen, Mike T and Mark B. Chris H/Comet was next through in 7th place with Alessandro & Matt/470 in 8th and Paul H and Nigel in two more Lasers were battling for 9th spot. Just over a minute later Sally/Comet and Ron/Mirror crossed the line almost together and yet so far apart and four geese flew over the fleet. Some 3 minutes on and the indominable Waterman in his Morbic meandered across the line followed at a distance by Carol & Chris Meunier in their Sport 14.
Lap 2
With the first two fast men easing away at the front, the fast lady Karen had passed Darren to move to 3rd. Mike T and Mark were steady in 5th and 6th places, but Alessandro & Matt had passed Chris H to move up to 7th with Nigel passing Paul H to cross in 9th. At the rear of the fleet Carol & Chris (despite clobbering the start pin!) had passed the lanterne rouge to Paul W.
Lap 3
As you were on the previous lap for the first seven, but towards the end of the lap Karen took to dancing on her transom (apparently the clew hook came unhooked and she had to stand up to refasten it whilst pulling the sail in at the same time – it’s a good thing that women can multi-task!). Nigel had got a move on and passed both Paul H and Chris H to move up to 8th place. No change behind them, but Chris & Carol and Paul W received the hooter at the end of their third lap. After finishing Chris & Carol almost wiped out Sally, but disaster was averted by a loud cry of “careful” from Carol (presumably directed at Chris if experience with my wife is anything to go by!).
Lap 4
Remarkably there was again no change in order on this lap, but the boys at the front increased their lead slightly. Chris H, Paul H, Sally and Ron all got tooted.
Lap 5
The fleet was now down to eight and we did get one change in position when Mike T passed Darren to snatch 4th place from him.
The final order on the water was – 1st James C: 2nd Steve S; 3rd Karen (horizontal pole dancer); 4th Mike T; 5th Darren; 6th Mark B (he has still not saved up enough pennies to treat himself to a number!); 7th Alessandro & Matt; 8th El commodore
On corrected time the order is disturbed by the intrusion of Chris (finish a lap earlier Hilson) into second spot, pushing everyone behind him down one place.
Thanks to SOOD Ralph Page and the race team of Chris & Toby Beresford, Hadey Lines (again), Stephen Morton and Phil