Teacake 7
Six boats took the start. Linda Spiller’s Laser Full crossed the line first, set off for West and was never headed. After three twelve minute laps she was four minutes ahead of the second starting, second finishing Solo of Adam Hilton. The winds which had appeared entirely charming and benign from the bank were a lot trickier on the water and got stronger as the race went on. In the middle of the Lake they arrived from over the western hills, making the first leg to West a high-pointing beat and the crossing to Inlet a sometimes stomach churning run. Going round Inlet was tricky – several helms got stuck in irons – and was not helped by an abusive fisherman on the bank. Going up to Pinky should have been a reach but was more like a beat; going back to Dam Green was often a glorious planing reach. Rob Spiller retired his Streaker after a lap. Ian Chatterton was sailing his Enterprise alone and did a fine job of surviving the winds’ gusts and troughs, finishing lap 1 in third but being overtaken by John Dabbs’ Bosun, Penny Abbott as crew, on lap 2. Leila Farmer, alone in her Hartley 12, made a good start and was still sailing at the end, although technically she retired somewhat earlier, having had to make an emergency stop replace the bung in her boat.
- Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
- Adam Hilton (Solo).
- John Dabbs and Penny Abbott (Bosun)
- Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker), Leila Farmer (Hartley 12)
The race was rescheduled from the week before and Tom Sparkes was present to man the safety boat. Nice to see John and Ruth Savage who were just visiting but kindly agreed to run the race.