The Final races of the Transom series were sailed in gentle North easterly but bitterly cold breeze. Bob set the courses for an easterly approach but with the wind abeam for a flying start. Three participants braved the conditions, Nick Speller in a Topaz, Carmel Roston in the Laser radial and Steve in the Laser standard.
Race one saw all three off to a good start with Carmel first off the line, but then strangely slowing to allow Nick and Steve through. Carmel caught up and over took Nick but could not catch Steve enough to make her handicap advantage count. On handicap a relatively close three and a half minutes separated the three boats.
Race two was a good start by all three again, this time Carmel hanging on to her lead, and holding off Steve for the best part of three laps on the water and even more so on handicap.
Carmel then went wide at the windward mark allowing Steve to capitalise and sneak through. Meanwhile Nick was serenely sailing around with his unique reclining/hiking style yet still managing to close the gap between himself and Steve to just one and half minutes on handicap.
Carmel beat Steve by just six seconds on handicap which ironically was same amount of time she now beat Robin into second in the slow fleet and…..up to third in the overall series, with just 0.5 points separating 3rd 4th and fifth places overall. Nick clinched third place in the slow fleet pushing flu-smitten Danny C into fourth. Well done all – good racing. and thanks to Carmel for the mince pies and to Bob for shortening the course and letting the freezing Safety boat crew in a bit earlier.