The forecast for the day suggested that it could be a very challenging event for the Race Officer and competitors alike with negligible wind expected from the SE moving around to the North by mid afternoon. However, for the 12 skippers who turned up to race there was breeze, albeit it light, blowing straight down the lake from the clubhouse end.
After a short briefing by Paul Plested, RO for the day, the fleet got away on time at 10am racing a typical 2 lap windward/leeward course with a short final beat to finish. In the first session of four races before a coffee break Alan Bennett, Tobias Laux and Peter Baldwin managed a degree of consistency in the light and shifty winds, each picking up at least three podium positions. Tobias managed two bullets, Peter one with Alan B having to make do with three 2nds. Chris Elliott had a good third race also picking up a 1st.
After a short refreshment break the fleet got away to continue the snakes and ladders racing, with positions constantly changing depending on whether you managed to steer clear of the holes in the wind. Alan B kept the pressure on his competitors scoring two firsts, with Tobias remaining consistent with another bullet and two 2nds in this four race session. Chris bagged another podium position picking a 2nd in race 6 and Paul Middleton took top spot in race eight. Bob Conner also picked up a 3rd place to go with a couple of 4ths earlier in the day, one achieved after being over the line at the start.
During the lunch break the wind, as per the forecast, switched 180degrees, which lead to a course change. As with the morning’s racing, there were still holes to catch folks out, but the breeze was a tad stronger and made for better racing across the fleet. Five races were sailed back to back and it was the usual suspects hogging the top three spots with Peter adding two more bullets to his scoreline, Tobias adding two and Alan B picking up another. Alan B also achieved a 2nd in race thirteen after what looked like a potential discard when he managed to pick up a nice little breeze down the shore to sail around several becalmed boats further out. Peter also looked at risk of losing 1st place, but he just managed to get around the last leeward mark to pick up the breeze to the finish. Bob picked up another two 3rd places and Paul added another 3rd place to his scorecard in this session. Alan Watkinson, who had been searching for boat speed all day, got his boat going in race eleven picking up a well earned 3rd place. Vernon Appleton, who was also in the mix in various races, picked up a 4th in race ten.
After a final break for a quick cuppa, it was clear that it was very close at the top. Tobias was in the driving seat with Alan B only a point or two behind. Peter also had it all to play for, especially as getting to sixteen races would mean he could ditch a counting sixth.
In race fourteen Alan B turned the screw by taking the win, with Tobias picking up 2nd and Peter 3rd. In race fourteen Tobias put more pressure on himself with a penalty close to the start, which he didn’t recover from, with Alan B taking his 2nd bullet of this session. Peter picked up 2nd. So, it was all down to the last race, with Tobias one point ahead of Alan B before a third discard came into play. Alan B got a good start but Tobias was even quicker off the start line, with perfect timing and speed at the pin end. For the first lap Tobias was a few boat lengths ahead at the leeward gate, but by the top of the beat, after splitting tacks, Alan B had managed to cross Tobias, only to just get nudged out by Tobias rounding just inside him at the windward mark. At the spreader mark Tobias, in the lead by a boat length, misjudged the rounding and touched the mark, which put him a boat length or two behind Alan B after taking a penalty turn. Alan B managed to stay ahead and took the race win, and, when the final results were compiled, the overall win over Tobias by just one point. Peter Baldwin was third overall with Chris Elliott fourth.
Despite the challenging conditions it proved to be a good of racing throughout the fleet.
Thanks go to Joss and Christine for keeping all competitors supplied with coffee, tea and cakes throughout the day. Thanks also to Paul and Sharon Plested for managing the racing, and Paul also for taking the photos.
