Summer Series 12         4th September 2022

With a SSE wind about 11 mph Ron used a clubhouse bank start with a course of 2, 9, 3, 4, A (between 6 and 7) then 6 and through the start line.

Pursuit Race

There were 16 starters this morning and with the light wind and longish course it was more or less a one lap race before the 35 minutes elapsed. Jamie MF/Laser retired as his outhaul came loose and Chris K/Radial also retired (reason unknown), although there were a number of capsizes.

The final order was – 1^st Newton/Solo; 2^nd Chris H/Comet; 3^rd Mike T/Comet; 4^th Darren/Laser; 5^th Mark/Laser; 6^th Richard/4.7.

Handicap Race

Ron shortened the course to 2, 9, 5, 6, S.

There was some excitement just before the start when the fleet became very agitated, waving of arms and slapping of hulls. It turned out that a Blaze which was not racing had capsized near 4 and the mast had gone under the buoy line making it impossible for the helm to right the boat. The start sequence was already underway, but the SBs managed to extricate the Blaze before the fleet reached the capsize site!

First back across the line was Newton/Solo just ahead of Darren/Laser, James/Laser, Chris H/Comet, Jamie H/Laser, Mike T/Comet, Mark/Laser and Adrian/Rooster with all of these within one minute of each other. The just 30 seconds later Rick/Laser crossed in 9^th place just ahead of Jamie MF/Laser and Richard/4.7. Then it was over six minutes before the Sadler family flotilla came through with Becky/Pico leading Will and Frances in their Toppers. Frances received the finish hooter and Theo/Solo and Alessandro & Matt/470 retired on this lap.

On the second lap Darren took the lead with Newton in 2^nd place and Mark was up four places to 3^rd. Adrian was up two places to 6^th, Richard had passed Jamie MF and Will was just ahead of Becky and these three received the gun at the end of the lap.

At the end of the last lap Darren crossed the line in 1^st place with Mark passing Newton to take 2^nd place. James retained 4^th place, but Adrian gained another place to cross in 5^th with Chris H gaining two places to finish in 6^th place pushing Jamie H down to 7^th.   Mike T was steady in 8^th place with Rick and Richard finishing in 9^th and 10^th places.

After finishing Richard gave a very nice demonstration of a dry capsize (didn’t know he could still get his leg over so quickly!)

On corrected time the order becomes – 1^st Darren/Laser; 2^nd Chris H/Comet; 3^rd Newton/Solo; 4^th Mark/Laser; 5^th Mike T/Comet; 6^th James/Laser

Thanks to SOOD Ron Vass and the race team of Aileen Moore (still sitting out whilst her bottom is being reshaped), Ken Pope, Mike Arnott and Nigel Jenkins.