After a wet week, and a cold start to the season, it was a pleasant surprise to have a good westerly breeze with sunshine helping everyone at least feel a little warmer.
There was a good turnout of 17 boats spread across three fleets. The good breeze made some of the legs challenging, even if they weren’t all to Toggle’s liking, and there were a few capsizes. A nervous Claire Duncan wasn’t keen to venture out, but she did; a lack of communication (or change of mind) about gybing resulted in a capsize, which she coped with well until she had to try to get out of the way of a passing Wayfarer! An ice pack now adorns her knee….
Scumper revelled in the conditions, winning both races by more than a minute on handicap from Steve Hunt sailing his Solo. Banter Phil had an excellent 2nd race giving Toggle a run for his money, though he lost out at the final mark.
In the GPs, Tim/Martin broke through to the lead for a while, but Dave/Lynn soon worked back to their normal position, winning both races, and strengthening their lead in the series.
With just two F15s, racing was relatively close, such that Tim/Ian and Ian/Lezli-Ann had a win each, Though Ian’s win gives him the lead in the series.
Sunday started off a beautiful morning, but the forecast was dire – strong winds with rain moving in! Although windy, the conditions were dry, and sailable, but there were only four takers – two in the handicap fleet and two F15s. Both Jo Watkins and Steve Hunt capsized, and they tended to be cautious at the gybe mark by wearing round, but in the end Steve’s lead in the Solo gave him pole position.
Graham/Kayla had a good race against Tim/Ian, and kept closing the gap, Graham even coming back after doing turns, but heading up the left hand side of the final beat was the wrong tactic for Graham, and Tim won.
Despite Kayla’s best efforts to get another boat to sail the afternoon pennant race, there were no takers, so racing was cancelled for the rest of the day. At least sailors will be able to pack their boats away in the dry weather!
A miserably wet day on Thursday resulted in only four boats racing. Perhaps the balmy Summer evenings are just around the corner?!
Watch Out, another F15 will be taking to the water.
Following quite a bit of liquid refreshment & ‘should we or shouldn’t we’, amidst great cheering in the clubhouse, Stacey & Martin Rowell won the bidding on eBay on Sunday evening for F15 ‘Floating Pound’. They’re picking the boat up from Kendal next Saturday and hope to have it on the water next weekend.
It’s brought the age profile of Fifteen owners at the club down quite a lot!
Graham (F15 Fleet Captain’s Father in law)