Where was everyone today? All at home enjoying breakfast in bed, or perhaps playing with their new iPads. Whatever the reason for the low turnout, many people missed a good sail.
The morning race was part of a long championship series, and the OD was keen to make sure the race incorporated a beat, run, reach and fetch. Joan/Jack Hardie in their RS200 fended off competition from Toggle in his Vareo to beat him by just over 1 min on handicap, with Jo Watkins in a Laser Radial 3rd ahead of Peter Ballard in his Supernova.
In the F15s, Mike/Kayla had an early cover tacking regime over Tim/Ian such that they were both over 13 secs behind the start, Mike stayed ahead and won, giving him a one point lead in the series over Tim.
Mike/Eric in GPs ambled round the course beating Kath/Glenys by a good 9 mins!
The afternoon race was a pennant in aid of RNLI, and, as ever, the course took the fleet around the lake. Kath/Glenys were too busy chatting to get niggling faults sorted on their boat to get out to the start on time, so returned ashore at the end of the first beat. The OD was again pleased that the fleet would have a beat, run, reach and fetch in the race, little did he expect that four different boats would be on separate states within yards of each other on the same leg of the course! (Check out http://t.co/Hapuznd) Such are the conditions on a round the laker. Mike/Kayla were first to the end of the lake after about 40 mins, but there were another three boats closely on their tail viz. Joan/Jack, Tim/Ian and Toggle. Also, Mike/Eric were sailing well on handicap and just three mins behind the leading bunch.
Conditions on the return leg were equally changeable, and although Mike broke away several times, there were numerous occasions when the lead was threatened such that he was to finish his day’s racing as he started – cover tacking Tim/Ian! After 90 mins sailing, Mike finished ahead of Tim by 3 secs, and won on handicap. Joan/Jack were 2 mins behind, and Mike/Eric another 20 secs later.
Sandra’s Salver is for lady crews in pennant races, as Kayla was the only lady crew to finish she gets 1st place, but Sue Watson still leads the series.