Sadly, the weather gods were against us this week with a wind from the SW pretty well straight across the lake. Peter replaced the mising gate mark at the clubhouse end and setup for a course starting at the clubhouse end as it was forecast to swing around to be from the W sometime after 14:00. Most people opted for an A swing rig, with Alan on a conventional A.
The first race got started soon after 13:00 (with a leg that was anything from a run to a fetch) to a first mark near the bank with a starboard rounding and back down to the gate. Unfortunately the lake was rather like a pea soup and most boats were getting fin and rudder coated up after a single leg, which could be difficult to shake off. Boat handling was tricky and if the breeze dropped, tacking was not at all easy catching a few out. Alan Bennett led the first race, but decided to take his boat out after one lap as his battery was being quickly depleted and ended his day there. Alan W took the first race after a very close finish with George just second.
In race two it was Dave’s turn for a win with George second once again after leading for a good part of the race. Peter then took wins in the next two races, with George second in both with Alan and Dave sharing the third places. We then an early break and re-fuelled hoping that the wind might improve in the second half.
The direction had gone more westerly (to WSW) and at times the gusts would knock the boats over on the run, but they were short-lived and we would often be waiting for the next gust to get moving again. Charles had to finish at this point due to mobility problems leaving just four sailors to see out the afternoon.
This second session belonged to George though with three wins from the four races, with Peter picking up an additional win. Racing was very close most of the time though with the final result not clear until five metres from the finish line.
After eight races, everyone agreed to save their sanity and call a halt. George (one of our youngest skipper by a long way) ended up the well deserved winner this afternoon, with Peter second and Alan third. Thanks go to our finishers, Martin Whittingham Jones (first half) and Alan Bennett and chief photographer Dave Williams.
- George Bennett 71 Uno 9pts 3 wins
- Peter Baldwin 63 Uno 10pts 3 wins
- Alan Watkinson 23 Uno 16pts 1 win
- Dave Williams 33 Uno 17pts 1 win
- Charles Legg 26 Uno 30pts
