It was a bright, sunny, yet crisp and cold Sunday morning for the latest instalment of the Early Bird Series at Sully. A decent turnout of Lasers, along with a variety of other boats, made for an exciting day on the water. Among them was new member Gary, who travelled down from Chepstow to take part in his first sail and race at Sully, aboard his Solution – drawn by the club’s reputation for top-quality sailing.
The breeze came in at a steady Force 3, gusting 4, with gusty and shifty offshore winds funnelling unpredictably over the land. Race Officer Carmel set a short upwind start followed by a port triangle course, which promised – and delivered – plenty of action.
Race 1:
Steve and Danny got off to the best start, with the usual hail of “Port! Port!” ringing out across the start line. Gary, in his Solution, rounded the first mark in third place, closely chased by Jason and Andy. Meanwhile, in the Slow fleet, Key – with a new crew onboard – took an early lead, followed by Trevor.
A tight battle unfolded between Steve, Danny, and Gary, all neck and neck until Jason executed a neat inside move on Danny to claim second place on that lap. However, the Solution was thwarted by the first gybe mark, which allowed the three Lasers to extend their lead.
The second lap saw fierce competition to the finish line. Danny led, but Jason’s clever port-starboard manoeuvre brought him right back into contention. In a nail-biting finish, Danny just managed to pip Jason by a single second. Gary followed in third, with Key next, and Tryggvi in the Topaz not far behind, learning the ropes but benefiting from the tide to chase down Trevor, while Andy gradually pulled ahead.
Race 2:
As the wind picked up, several boats retired after the first race, leading to a smaller fleet and a more subdued second race. Nevertheless, the competition between Steve and Jason remains fierce as they continue to battle for series supremacy, with Steve holding the early advantage after securing two wins.
Overall, it was an exciting day on the water, marked by strong performances, close racing, and some clever tactical moves – with many looking forward to next week’s continuation of the series.