A much warmer day on the water for the race team and the 10 boats that launched. The forecast for light winds at midday never materialised and the wind gradually increased from a F2 to F4. Although overcast for much of the day we did have several sunny periods, a short spell of rain and some hail once we arrived back onshore. The wind was shifty and mainly South-ish, plenty of shifts kept everyone focussed.
For race one the race team set a Triangular course taken to Starboard to the approval of many a single hander sailor. With the tide still flooding most of the fleet headed offshore on the beat to the windward mark. Phil, sailing his RS700 quickly took the lead closely followed by Dave & John in their RS400, these two opening up a good lead on the rest of the fleet. Behind, a four way battle between Curtis (RS700), Nick (Phantom), Steve (D-One) and Phil & Lorna in their trusty RS400. On lap two Nick opened up a small lead on the others crossing the line just ahead of Steve. Behind Phil (Contender) and David (Solution) were swapping places with David leading after lap two and Phil slipping pass on the final lap crossing the line two seconds ahead. On corrected time Dave & John just beat Phil, with Nick claiming third.
For race two the race team switched back to our customary Windward-Leeward course. The fleet were closely bunched up the first leg with Dave & John a short way ahead of Phil (RS700). Unfortunately for Dave & John they failed to notice the change to Port course and arriving first at the windward mark promptly rounding the wrong way. The rest of the fleet apparently had noticed and rounded correctly and headed downwind. By this time the wind had increased to a F4 and the sea had built up a tad to provide some great surfing downwind.
Phil (700) led after the first lap but decided to head back inshore. Dave & John had a good downwind leg slipping into second place. Tom & Will, sailing their 505 joined us for race two and were vying for third with Nick.
With the tide just about to turn the sea state had increased a tad and a few succumbed to their first ‘swim’ of the year. After four laps Dave & John crossed the line a couple of minutes ahead of Nick who had managed to pull clear of Tom & Will after a trawling of their spinnaker. David had kept the Solution going nicely downwind and finished third on corrected time with Dave & John beating Nick by just five seconds for first.
Grey skies pass overhead
Big thanks to the race team, a tricky day with a shifting wind requiring a change of position for the windward mark in race two but probably the best sailing conditions we’ve had this year. Pawel’s new toy, a nifty pocket Anemometer recorded 17-18 knots on the water, and by the time we made it ashore the wind had increased further as there were a few white horses to be seen.
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