Photos by Sam May
11 sailors were greeted with a gentle 8 knot breeze from the South West. The sun shone too!
In the boat pound, some were saying the wind was building & others saying it would drop.
This sort of speculation only really affected the Aero sailors with their multiple choice of rigs.
The RO set a ‘P’ course but the line was tricky to cross on starboard. Quite a few opted to start on port tack…one boat tacking from starboard to port on the line & causing havoc.
Most boats headed for the ‘Butlins Corner’ in hope of catching the tide washing out & a couple of boats (Pete Jones, Blaze & Guy Mayger, Solo) headed out to sea.
The wind shifted more to the South & Guy & Pete rounded the windward mark with Tim Cutsforth (RS 600) just ahead of the chasing pack.
Tim disappeared in to the distance with Pete Jones following with the Solo of Guy Mayger on his transom.
The next group of boats chasing Guy were Richard Ganley & Ross Fisher (Blazes) & James Gerwat (DZero). Not far behind them were the 2 Aero 7s of Catherine Hemsley & Richard Bentley.
At the back of the fleet was the Byte C1 of Paula Bentley, the Aero 5 of Roshan Verghese & Simon Howell in his Solo.
The 2nd lap saw a few changes on the water; Ross Fisher went past the Dzero & the other Blaze & Richard Bentley overhauled Catherine Hemsley in the Aero 7s.
Guy Mayger was ever present in his Solo – it wasn’t until the 3rd & final lap that the 2 Blazes, the Dzero & Richard Bentley’s Aero7 actually passed him on the water.
After 43 minutes for the lead boat (Tim Cutsforth) the handicaps were applied & it was no surprise that Guy Mayger had won by a staggering 2 minutes & 44 seconds (corrected time) over 2nd placed Pete Jones (Blaze). 3rd was Richard Bentley (Aero 7).
Thanks go to Glenn Powell for helping on the safety boat & claiming his average points.
Glenn’s average points were 13.7…..there were only 11 boats on the water.
Glenn retained his sense of humour.
1st Guy Mayger
2nd Pete Jones
3rd Richard Bentley
