AM: Cup Race 4
James Pollard and Steve Axford in full-sailed Lasers were first to cross the start line on their way to Dam Green buoy where James took the inside line. Robin Spiller (Streaker) followed and then most of the rest of the fleet arrived at once, some on port tack, some on starboard. The result was a bunch of boats sandwiched between the buoy on the inside and the Wayfarer on the out. Several helms were severely delayed. The Wayfarer was fourth after the longish run to Middle with Viki Herbert-Coulson getting good use out of the spinnaker but by Pinkie the charging double-hander had got past two Lasers and a Streaker and took a lead that was never relinquished and extended to some four minutes over Steve Axford after the four laps. For the most part the light south easterly winds held up and were powering the boats to fifteen minute laps but helms needed to be thoroughly alert to shifts in direction if they were to make the most of their tacking. Third at the finish was James Pollard with Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial fourth and Nathan Pollard fifth. John Dabbs and Sally Wills had got the club’s Kestrel past Robin Spiller to finish sixth. There was an unfortunate mistake at race command and the official results with handicaps applied could not be produced.
PM: Ladies, Junior, Gosling Gents Cups 3
In an attempt to avoid the congestion of the previous race the start was moved to Line 2 with Home 1 as the first buoy to round. With the winds still blowing from the east a number of helms saw an advantage in starting from right under the end of the pontoon in order to make the buoy in one starboard tack. Unfortunately there were again too many boats in too little water; casualties included Steve Axford with a serious delay and Adam Hilton stuck on the lee shore! The Wayfarer was only just leading at the end of lap 1, Jane Anderson, Nathan Pollard and Sue Murray were only a few seconds behind after an eleven minute lap of the now shorter course. Sue Murray got herself up to second on the second lap and stayed there. She was only a minute behind the Wayfarer after four laps. And Steve Axford was hauling himself up from last to as high as fifth, only to have the Dabbs/Wills Kestrel overtake him on the last lap.
Results:
1. Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)
2. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
4. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
5. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
7. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
8. Steve Axford (Laser Full)
9. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
10. John Dabbs and Sally Wills (Kestrel)
Retired: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
Grateful thanks were given to Roger Heasman, Pavol Rovensky and James Pollard for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for her photographs.