Two afternoon races in a breeze which played games. Slow from the North increasing and turning north east eventually settling to the east and dropping off.

First race saw the fast fleet go to four laps and the slow boats to three. Danny had the best start and maintained himself ahead of the other lasers all race.

By the second race the wind was more easterly. Laurie almost missed the start. There was a good deal of shouting on the line as everyone jostled for position. The first leg was a good beat for this race and the first three lasers had very close racing. The wind eased with the race going to three laps for the fast boats and two for the slow fleet.

On handicap, Nigel finished ahead of the Lasers but with most of the fleet out for the first time this year there’s no change to the overall positions except for Jake moving up to 4th in the Fast fleet.

Its still only April and although the sun was about there was still a chill when afloat.

Results

With last week being cancelled due to excessive wind today’s race was on the cusp of being cancelled due to the lack of it. The wind started coming in from the west. It then turned south and by the end of the second race was a good force 4. The sun also graced us with an appearance.

Four boats were out, two lasers, one laser radial and a topaz. A triangular course was set by the OOD Teilo Richardson. Andrew physically lead each race from the start, but Carmel snuck ahead in the second on handicap. Both races went to five laps.

Results

Neil had a couple of blistering starts but capsizes let Steve and Jason through. Robin and Carmel also competed on capsizes with Robin getting the better for last place.

Results

Four intrepid souls set forth in 18kts of wind to tackle a simple triangle course. Neil and Andrew led the field away from the start and fight up the beat to the first mark before a tangled foot led to Andrew capsizing and Neil shot clear off down the run.

Then the conditions started to narrow down the field. Andy retired and a second capsize for Andrew (and a bang to the head from the boom) at the end of first race, meant the second race consisted of two boats. Laser vs Topaz. But it was a short race to let Neil capitalise on the absence of Steve before they were called in to ensure there were still enough people to recover the rescue boat.

Results

After a delay to rescue the Patrol Boat, 5 boats set out for Laser full rig only racing. The delay gave time for the wind to increase from force 1 to force 2.

Steve got his timing right for a pin end start on starboard on a port biased line with Jake and Jason close behind and Neil and Pete tacking off. Steve got to the first mark just ahead of the other two who went left and the two who went right were well behind. Steve then went round the mark the wrong way and let Jake and Jason get away and then spent the rest of the race fighting off Neil. It continued that way for two laps with Jake taking the lead ahead of Jason with Steve just ahead of Neil and Pete ‘a bit’ behind.

The wind increased to force 3-4 between races and after an even tighter start Neil pulled ahead. Jake overhauled Steve downwind, with Jason close behind, and held on until the end of the second beat, by which time it was blowing force 5 and getting exciting and Steve surged past Jake and Jason. Steve stormed off downwind after Neil (who was finding the force 6 gusts interesting) while Jason and Jake sorted themselves out.

Neil finally succumbed to the inevitable and capsized at the bottom mark allowing Steve past. Nick in the race office thought we were enjoying it (Steve was) and sent us round for a third lap. Jake and Pete retired but Jason hung on for 3 capsizes and 3rd place, with Steve 1st and Neil 2nd.

Results

Both races abandoned due to too much tide and not enough wind.

Results

Six competitors braved the cold and rain for one of the last race days of the year. A calm sea ideal for launching and recovering without fuss. The wind started to play tricks changing to the South just after launching. The anticipated course was run in reverse. By the end of the first race the wind had dropped, moved to the East and the tide started to have its effect upon competitors. For the second race the marks were moved closer together and the course reverted back to its clockwise pattern. As soon as the starting sequence commenced the wind changed to the South and picked up resulting in a 23 minute five lap race. OOD having run out of paper to record any further laps and thinking the competitors would be glad to get ashore.

Overall, the Slow Fleet is decided, with Lawrence first and Danny C second. In the Fast Fleet, only Steve in first is assured. The other places are still up for grabs between Andrew E, Robin, Pete, Neil and Danny P, but next week is the last opportunity and it may be windy!

Results

Just four Lasers today and no one else. It was close racing though with the boats fighting for position throughout both races. Jake and Chris set a tiny course until OOD Nick asked them to make it larger. Even so, the boats were lapping in just over 6 minutes.

In the first race it was very close for the first 4 laps until Danny and Steve pulled away from Robin and Neil. Danny managed to hold off Steve, and Robin and Neil were swapping places until Robin came out ahead at the finish.

The second race was even closer. Danny hit the start mark and had to do turns allowing Neil and Steve to get a few metres ahead. Danny fought back and playing the wind shifts nearly got the better of Neil and Steve but hit the mark again. Neil got the inside edge on Steve with Robin close behind, but Danny surged back and at the penultimate mark it was Neil, with Steve in pursuit, closely followed by Danny, and Robin not far behind. Neil played the shifts right and crossed the line first but Steve couldn’t hold off Danny who was able to squeeze him out at the finish with Robin taking advantage and 3rd place.

Results

It was pouring with rain and Andrew was ready to call things off with only Danny P wanting to sail, but with 40 minutes to go three more intrepid sailors turned up. We launched in no waves and a F3-4 southeasterly and the rain stopped; things were looking up. Danny led out of the start with Steve in pursuit; Steve tacked off and caught him at the first Mark, but Danny sailed over the top of him and led at the second mark. Steve closed the gap at times but after 4 laps Danny was nearly 30 seconds ahead.

Pete tried to get in the action at the start of the second race and was timing it perfectly, but the wind which had swung to a southerly suddenly increased to F5-6, veered towards a southwesterly, and Pete ended up going to pieces. Danny and Steve headed for the first mark on a screaming reach and were neck and neck. Steve made it round first and Danny went to pieces. The next leg, which in the first race had been a broad reach turned into a beat and Steve pulled away and when Danny retired hurt he cruised to a win, with Pete in second. Danny C in the Topaz was hoping to make it a second ‘first slow fleet boat’ finish but was undone by the wind, but did manage to sail the boat in this week after multiple capsizes.

Danny is second in the slow fleet with Lawrence ahead. Steve leads the fast fleet, followed by Andrew and Robin.

Results