a.m. Sailboat 2
With a cold strong breeze blowing onto the shore from the East, many sailors chose to sit this race out. However, 7 boats made the start line with a sprint towards Dam mark. The first 2 round were Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) and Jane Anderson (Topper) which happened to be the order in which they finished! But once the handicaps had been applied this would change. Indeed, whilst brothers Elliot and Jack Pomeroy (Wayfarer) gained 4 places on the water, they finished last on paper! The Bosuns of Roger Heasman and Sally Wills, and Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert battled it out sandwiched between the 2 Toppers of Vicki and John Duncalf, with Vicki winning the battle, Brian coming in next followed Roger and the John D bringing up the rear.
Results:-Â 1. Jane Anderson (Topper), 2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper), 3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7), 4. John Duncalf (Topper), 5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun), 6. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun), 7. Elliot and Jack Pomeroy (Wayfarer).
p.m. Pursuit 2
The Pursuit Race starts off with the slower handicapped boats and sailors going off first, and the rest of the fleet goes off in timed stages according to their previous performances. So with was the Duncalf family in their slower Toppers who set the race going as they sprinted down to the first mark, followed by Jane Anderson in her Topper 5 minutes later, then Roger and Sally in their Bosun, then Brian and Cilla in their Bosun, with Nathan in his Laser 4.7 being left the most work to do to make his way up the fleet from the back!. John and Vicki swapped positions within the first few metres of the start and then John went and touched the first mark, so it was all change again as Vicki nipped in to head the fleet whilst John completed his penalty turn – a position she stoically and determinedly maintained until the end of the 67 minute race in exceedingly challenging conditions. After the first lap, positions hadn’t changed with Nathan gaining ground at the back, and Jane gaining on Vicki by a minute. As the wind strength dropped in the 2nd and 3rdlaps, John Duncalf retired rather fed up as he’d hit yet another mark. The rest of the fleet remained spread out with only Nathan significantly changing the race order. Indeed, despite Roger and Sally’s valiant efforts to hold off his advances, Nathan managed to take 3rd place by the end of the race.
Results: 1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper), 2. Jane Anderson (Topper), 3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7), 4. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun), 5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun). John Duncalf had already retired for a hot cup of tea.
Thanks to Rachael Pomeroy for OOD duties and writing these reports.