The first, and longest, bank holiday weekend of the year started off wet and windless. However, a light breeze did fill in sufficiently to get racing underway for the Good Friday Challenge. Dave/Sarah had their second ‘casual’ start of the season, but it was Mike/Kayla that were some minutes behind the leaders when they were the last to start.
As the drizzle faded, the wind eased and the OD was preparing to finish the fleet part way round the first lap. The light breeze returned in time for the leaders to continue on for a second lap. The excitement must have been too much for Robbie D/Banter who retired and have yet to complete a race this season!
Although Steve/Ruth were first on the water, the corrected times placed the GPs of Dave/Lynn as winners with Mike/Eric 2nd, and Steve 3rd
Tog reckoned we were in for some good weather for the rest of the weekend- would he be right? Well started off very promising with a dry start, but a light, patchy, wind. The wind did settle down a little, though mainly after the slight sea breeze kicked in shortly after the start. There was an eggsellent turnout of over 30 boats across all four fleets
Some consistent sailing in the F15s with 5 out of 7 boats getting the same result in each race. Mike/Kayla won both, Wendy/John and Graham/Elaine each with a 2nd and 4th. Dave/Lynn won both GP races. Despite a substantial lead in the handicap fleet, Phil/Naomi in a RS400 finished 2nd to Ian H in his Solo. Steve/Ruth won the 2nd race. Mik won the only slow handicap race, as the long first race took its toll on various younger competitors so they didn’t partake in the 2nd race.
On Sunday morning the fog was so thick that it wasn’t possible to see the end of the jetty! Fortunately it cleared, and a stronger than expected breeze filled in to enable racing to get underway on time. Well it would have started on time if it had not been for Ben Ainsley who caused a signal to be missed (indirectly). Despite the temporary delay, various people were caught out, including that reluctant headline grabber vice commodore Robbie D, and were still late starting!
The wind did swing and vary in strength throughout the day, but there’s nothing unusual about that! Disappointingly the mist/low cloud came over for a couple of hours preventing the temperature from getting up to the forecast 17C
The second special award of the season goes to Steve/Ruth at having to do the first set of turns of the season after misjudging where the front of his boat was.
By the end of the third race the skies were clear, and the wind had settled for some good racing. Finishing at 0 caused confusion when some believed it to be a hook finish, but we don’t get caught out that easily.
Monday morning proved to be just as foggy as Sunday, though it took a lot longer to clear. A SW breeze coming from a cloud bank did not last long so it was decided to postpone till after lunch.
The wind did fill in from the west, and came through in waves resulting in short periods of light/drifting conditions, but both scheduled races were held and there were more casual starters (from helms that should know better!)
After eight races, and over 200 finishes, the weekend ended with on a high – blue skies, nice breeze.
Neil/Rory won the F15s, with Mike/Kayla 2nd. Dave/Lynn had a clean sweep in the GPs from Mike/Eric. Similarly Bean/Naomi back in their RS200 had a clean sweep in the Handicap fleet from Robbie D/Josh also in a RS200, while Jim/Poppy in their Hartley held out and won the slow handicap series from Mik in a Mirror.