The start was delayed. The OOD showed up late—blindsided by the start of BST. He got the course sorted eventually, with the sun beating down hard enough to scorch his forehead. Forecast said clouds. It lied. Blue skies, gusty winds, and the water glinting like glass. Perfect for racing.
Six boats launched for the Early Bird series. Jake, sharp off the line on a port tack, looked good near the yellow buoy. But it didn’t last. The Lasers and the Solution powered past, cutting him off like sharks in the shallows. Key’s Wayfarer trailed. At the horn, he was miles behind. Water to make up. Plenty of it.
First mark. The pack formed. Steve, Andrew, Jason, Garry, Jake, then Key. Andrew flipped, tumbling into the drink and clearing the way for Jason. Key clawed ahead of Jake on lap two. The final stretch was a showdown. Andrew pushed hard, gaining on Steve, nearly stealing second back from Jason. But Jason held him. Eight seconds. That’s all it took.
The wind teased during the break, fading before surging back just as the horn screamed for the second race. Gusts hit hard and fast, keeping everyone sharp. The tide wasn’t helping. Logs drifted toward Penarth like ghosts, messing with the beat near the yellow buoy. The start? Tight. Calls of “starboard” probably flew, but I couldn’t hear them from where I was.
First mark again. Steve in the lead. Andrew, Jason, Garry chasing. Jason made his move, pulling even with Andrew on the run. But Andrew wasn’t giving up. He regained control on the next reach. Steve? He didn’t falter. He took the win. Andrew and Jason followed. Key wrestled with his reefed sail and dropped behind Jake.
Will and Charles cleaned up the buoys. Boats docked. The clubhouse doors swung open. Race done.