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 3^rd 4^th 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.

Results

A freezing cold gusty north-easterly and still four hardy sailors wanted to sail. Carmel, Steve and Nick needed the races to qualify. Teilo just wanted to prove that with a half decent sail (he chose the best mylar sail the club has to offer) he could leave the rest of the slow fleet in his wake.

Nick and Carmel’s starts played into Teilo’s hands and although Carmel managed to pass him, she capsized and Nick, despite a late surge, couldn’t catch him. Teilo won the slow fleet race and decided to quit while ahead and not sail the second race.

As the wind and gustiness increased (F6-7 at Nell’s Point and Flatholm) Nick pulled ahead of Carmel who chased hard until the tiller on the ‘new’ club boat jammed on the gybe and she ended up standing on the upturned hull (which didn’t let in any water!). Meanwhile Steve enjoyed the screaming reaches with no other fast fleet to get in the way (and won both races).

Overall, the fast fleet is now settled with Steve in first; Danny P close behind in second, but unable to make up the difference, and Neil in third. In the slow fleet there is all to play for. Robin has enough races to qualify and is lying in first, but Carmel could overturn that if she sails next week. If she doesn’t and Nick does, he has a chance of second place unless Danny C pulls something out of the bag. If Nick and Carmel don’t sail, then Danny will retain his second place.

Results