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.