It was already hot when sailors started to arrive this week, the clear sun in a blue sky and temperature approaching 30C, but at least there was a light, middle of top suit breeze blowing down the lake from the clubhouse. After the marks were moved around a little, sailing for the 7 particpants got underway soon after 1pm under the watchful eye of Dave Williams as RO.
Race 1 belonged to Alan Bennett (Viper) who started well and had a good lead at the first mark and was never challenged throughout, leaving the rest to a close fight for the other positions. Peter Baldwin (Britpop!) then managed to take the next 4 race wins, before Alan took the win in Race 6 and a short break for a drink and snack. Martin Roberts (Vanilla) must have been well refreshed as he took Races 7, 10 and 11 after the break, with Peter picking up three more in Races 8, 9 and 12. The top part of the fleet was always very close though with gains (and losses) to be made right up to the finish, in the shifty and patchy wind.
The breeze held as an ESE up until Race 10, when it became more light and patchy with some movement Northerly and be across the lake. By the start of Race 11, the breeze had switched to be WNW (probably a late sea breeze) and that race ended up as a running start and a windward gate as the course was totally inverted. For the final race the course was switched round and the first leg was once again a beat.
Peter took the day with his 7 wins, with Martin second and Alan close behind in third. Thanks once again to Dave for getting the 12 races in at a steady pace and Jack for manning the galley and keeping us refreshed – a very important role on such a hot day.
- Peter Baldwin Britpop! 63 14pts
- Martin Roberts Vanilla 22 21pts
- Alan Bennett Viper 33 22pts
- John Berry Viper 12 32pts
- Charles Legg K2 25 52pts
- Ken Jones Pitprop 71 60pts
- Alan Watkinson Britpop! 23 66pts
Next week it is back to the DF and RG65 for Saturday racing.

Thirteen sailors turned out today, with a few that hadn’t made it down for a number of weeks. Initially the view was that the breeze suited the A+, but when the start time came around, it was definitely A and verging on a B Rig due to the strength of the gusts, estimated at around 16 knots, mostly straight down the lake from the far end, but with some significant gusts catching the unwary out.
Peter moved the marks around for a windward leeward single lap course and we got started around 11:10 having changed down. Everyone took it in turns to run a race each, but that meant thirteen races had to be completed, leading to a slightly later finishing time of 13:10, stopping a few sailors from participating in every race.
John Brierley and Peter Baldwin mostly had a good close tussle for race wins John with 6 and Peter with 3, although there were also wins for Derek Matthews (2), Alan Watkinson (1), and Dave Williams (1). Racing was mostly very close throughout the fleet, with rarely anyone getting well in the lead, never to be challenged. John won the day, with Peter close behind and then 3rd place had to go to countback to split Dave from Neil. A great mornings racing, with thanks going to Dave for working out the final scores.
Five Skippers put their boats on the water to have some sprint racing of a single lap and allow comparison of rig and sail settings and see what worked and what didn’t. Dave Williams very graciously agreed to loan his fin and keel to someone who forgot theirs and his reward was then to run the racing for everyone. A big thank you to Dave for doing this.