There was a thin covering of sea mist along the coast and a gentle NE’erly wind for the fifth instalment of the Summer series. However, just before the dinghies were about to launch a bank of sea mist drifted inshore restricting visibility sufficiently to delay proceedings. After about twenty minutes the mist began to clear and shortly after boats launched and headed for the start area. The race team added a spacer mark up-tide of the windward mark to even up the windward and leeward legs and thus providing a short reach.
In race one Team Brown sailing the family RS400 rounded the windward mark shortly followed by Nick in his Phantom and Richard in his RS300. These three gradually pulled ahead with Team Brown leading to the line with Richard second. Behind, Steve (Europe), David (Solution) and Dave (Laser) were enjoying some close racing with Steve redefining the angles of sailing by the lee to open up a small lead on the others on each downwind leg.
On corrected time Steve had a good lead with Dave just pipping Nick for second.
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The wind eased a tad for race two. Richard won the start and led round the windward mark, closely followed by Team Brown. Only a few seconds separated Steve, David and Dave after the first lap with the latter just ahead. All change on lap two with Team Brown leading by a good margin and Steve now heading the ‘group of three’. Team Brown crossed the line clear ahead of Richard who was well ahead of Nick. On corrected time Richard was promoted to first with Team Brown second and a tie for third between Nick and Steve.
Richard led the fleet in the final race and held on until the last lap with Team Brown slipping through to cross the first (making it three out of three). Nick recovered well after a slow first lap closing the gap on Richard. Steve was never far behind winning by a good margin on corrected time with Richard just beating Nick for second.
Many thanks to Team Alison for a good course and a pleasant days racing. Next week is the final instalment of the Summer series. Only six points separate the first four boats with Nick leading.
