14 Boats competed for the two trophies on offer today: The Watler Cup for the Fast fleet and the Centripump for the slow. A record turnout for the year-to-date on the windiest day of the year-to-date. So windy that some of the older members of the Laser fleet decided to race with Radial rigs! It was blowing from the north-east 20 knots, gusting to 27 knots at Nells Point.
The 2 leading Lasers (Danny and Neil – Fast Fleet) and Radials (Aran and Steve – Slow Fleet) set off in a tight knit group and stayed close for the first 2 laps while Robin and Lawrence in the Dart 18 sailed off into the distance and Nigel and Jake in Toppers stayed too close for comfort. By the third lap Danny was tiring and Neil capsized and got stuck in irons (head to wind) for several minutes allowing Danny to get ahead. Steve finished first of the group of Lasers and with an advantage of 3 seconds on handicap beat Nigel to the Centripump Cup, with Arun in third. First in the Fast Fleet and winner of the Watler Cup, was Robin in the Dart 18 – fourth overall.
Half the boats stayed to sail the second race. Steve and Neil fought it out at the front with Neil pulling ahead and finishing first on the water but behind Nigel and Steve on handicap. This time Nigel beat Steve by 3 seconds and takes the lead in the series on account of the results of the last race taking precedence if points and places are equal.