Easter Cup 2025
A great turnout for the Easter Cup today,
4 races across the day, with a 10kt breeze coming from the North East.
Hugh set a fantastic course with minimal beats for the first pursuit race. Karen (comet) and Will S (Feva) gained an early lead, which Karen held onto, finishing first. Will lost places to Chris H (comet) and Steve S (Blaze) who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Will managed to hold on to 4th place.
Elsewhere in the fleet, Aileen managed a spectacular and vocal capsize, allowing most of the fleet to pass her. There was some close racing in the midfleet, but the Solos of Darren and Ralph were able to keep ahead.
It’s rare to improve upon perfection, but the course was changed for the Morning’s handicap race. Rick (Laser) had a fantastic start, great wind shift to the first mark and subsequently sailed a flawless race, passed only by Steve in his much faster Blaze, finishing 1st overall. Ralph had similar luck and finished just three seconds behind on Handicap. Richard S finished 3rd in his Laser Radial.
A quick stop back on the shore for a fantastic lunch of Spaghetti Bolognese, Garlic Bread and Ice Cream, made by Ann, before heading back out for two short afternoon races.
Left quaking in their boots from the course in the morning, only 7 sailors made their way out for the afternoon’s racing.
The wind got even shiftier for the third race, Steve Sharp was way out in front but lost a lot of time to the wind dying at one of the marks. Karen and Richard S were close enough to beat him to 1st and 2nd. Steve meanwhile was in 3rd. Elsewhere in the race, Steve P and Will S started to go to the wrong buoy and both lost out on what could have been a good final position.
The final race had a near perfect start, with Will S and Steve S way clear of the rest of the Fleet. It all came apart at the second windward mark when the wind died (honestly, why did the SOOD put the bouy there). Steve managed to slip through, but the rest of the fleet caught up and overtook Will. The rest of the fleet remained close, with Will keeping up with the much faster boats.
Steve maintained his lead to take 1st, with Karen 2nd and Will S 3rd.
Karen was the eventual winner of the Easter Cup, with Steve S 2nd and Richard S 3rd.
A big thank you to Hugh and his team for organizing a great day of racing and for Ann for taking the time to cook a lovely meal of everyone.
We’re back for more racing… and food! On Wednesday for the Commodore’s Cup
