In an ideal world the wind blows consistently along the pond and the race officer can set a course with an unbiased start line, a satisfying beat to a windward mark, a reach down to a separator at which boats turn onto a downwind leg and sail happy to the leeward gate or mark. Today was not such a day. As we gathered at the pondside we scratched our heads trying to work out the wind direction, while the wind shifted around us, turning beats into runs and back again.
In the face of this wayward wind, it was decided to set a course starting at the clubhouse end, sailing to the far end and rounding the two furthest buoys to port before turning back to a mark at the clubhouse end and finishing halfway up the pond. After a few races the race officer, Dave Williams (who generously acted as RO throughout the racing) added a separator at the clubhouse end. Despite the fluky winds several boats managed consistent performance with Mike de St. Paer taking the honours, followed by Alan Watkinson. The full results after 8 races were:
- Mike de St. Paer 10
- Alan Watkinson 15
- Clive Warren 17
- Jon Whitehead 21
- Andrew Peter 30
- Neil Westbrook 31
- John Carlin 32
- John Beech 47
- Paul Little 48
- Charles Legg 53
- Martin Whitingham-Jones 54
- Frans King 55
- Dave Warren 66
- Richard Walker 83*
* Retired early owing to technical problems
