Commodore 6
The weather forecast was for a dry day with light cloud and force 4 winds gusting to force 6. But what  greeted competitors was a lightly powered fog with occasional gusts of wind. Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard had cautiously chosen 4.7 sails for their Lasers. Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf were in Toppers and Adam Hilton (with John Dabbs) as well as Jane Chadney (with Sally Wills) had small sails on their Bosuns. Only Brian Pollard (Cilla Gilbert crewing)  got the equation right by choosing full sails for his Bosun.
Jane Anderson set off into the murk first but the two Lasers had got past before they got to the top of the course. Bob Sampson led from then on and finished the four laps some 80 seconds ahead of Nathan Pollard. Adam Hilton’s was the first of the Bosuns over the line but Brian Pollard had powered past him and then Jane Anderson before the end of the lap. It took a little longer for Jane Chadney to overtake the Hilton/Dabbs Bosun. At the end the leading Topper was some five minutes behind the winner on the water but the handicap gave Jane Anderson the victory.
1.      Jane Anderson (Topper)
2.      Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3.      Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
4.      Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
5.      Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
6.      Jane Chadney and Sally Wills (Bosun)
7.      John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
The fog was thick enough for Steph Colwill to go out in the safety boat to make sure she could see any difficulties that competitors might get into. With it if anything thicker after lunch the second race was cancelled.
Many thanks to Geoff Floyd and Rachael Pomeroy who ran the race.