Gillette Series 5 – 6th July 2022

With a shifty WNW wind Mike A set the first beat to B (between 5 and 6), 5, C (down towards 1), 4, 8, A (just behind the line).

At the start there was a gaggle of boats jostling for position at the starboard end of the line and a few were over the line and had to restart.

Lap 1

There were 22 starters and at the end of the lap, Ed/Aero and Ralph/Laser crossed the line together. Emily/Radial came through in 3^rd place just ahead of Darren/Laser, Alessandro & Matt/470 and Jess/Radial. There was a slight gap before Chris H/Comet and Rick & Steve/RS200 came along with only two seconds separating them as they battled for 7^th place. Next along were Mark/Laser, Jamie H/Laser and Newton & Sam in the second RS200 (note who’s leading the RS200 battle!). Hadey/4.7 and Karen/Laser crossed together further down the fleet than usual followed 30 seconds later by Mike T/Comet. Another 30 seconds elapsed before Jeremy/Laser turned up being chased by another old salt, Mike C in his Solo (less of the old Grandad!). Over a minute later the lanterne rouge squadron emerged from the heat haze led by Hattie/Radial,  then Ron/Mirror, Sally/Comet, Chris & Carol & Guest/Sport 14 and finally Russell in his Mirror and a young man in RSC1 Pico (sign the Declaration Sheet!).

Lap 2

Ralph had moved up to 1^st place with Darren 2^nd, Emily still 3^rd and Jess up two places to 4^th.   This set a pattern for the rest of the race with Darren keeping Ralph honest, but not quite catching him and Emily and Jess having a good battle in their Radials. Ed was down to 5^th with Jamie H and Newton & Sam moving up to 6^th and 7^th places. Mark moved up one place by passing Rick & Steve (who unfortunately for them had conceded class bragging rights to Newton & Sam). Karen had gained three places up to 10^th and Jeremy had slipped past Mike T, but behind them there was no change in the order. Chris & Carol had a fair shot at taking out the start line pin!

Lap 3

No change with the leading two but Jess had taken 3^rd position from Emily. Newton & Sam moved up another place passing Jamie H in the process. There was a bit of shuffling going on further back but nothing of great significance. Sally, Chris & Carol and Russell received the hooter at the end of their third lap.

Lap 4

The final lap and Ralph held onto his lead to cross the line in 1^st place with Darren just 15 seconds behind him. Jess consolidated her 3^rd place, but Emily had a disastrous last lap being passed by Ed, Newton & Sam, Jamie H and Mark.

The order on the water was – 1^st Ralph; 2^nd Darren; 3^rd Jess; 4^th Ed; 5^th Newton & Sam; 6^th Jamie H

On corrected time this becomes – 1^st Jess/Radial; 2^nd Ralph/Laser; 3^rd Darren/Laser; 4^th Ed/Aero; 5^th Emily/Radial; 6^th Ron/Mirror and 7^th and 8^th were the Comets of Chis H and Mike T!

Thanks to SOOD Mike Arnott and the race team of Dave Lomas, Leo Coppens, Nick Maria and Steve Mann.