Where were you all yesterday? Just four of us on the start-line but no fewer than five slow handicap boats racing! We can’t have this. A beautiful sunny day, the shore was actually covered in people of all ages having fun for probably the first time that I had seen this year. I know that the forecast was for very light winds but Bewl, as it often does, seemed to catch a bit more of the wind than Michael Fish had predicted. Next week is the commodores’ trophies event with various prizes up for grabs so let’s see if we can get a good turnout and not be dominated by Enterprises!
Mike was left on the shore without a crew for his Fifteen but was pressed into service as crew on a safety boat to cover for someone who hadn’t turned up and Vic arrived later, again looking for someone to sail with. People’s plans can change at short notice so please check on your e-mails on a Saturday as you might find that someone is looking for a person to sail with and you might be able to team up.
It was Spike’s turn to run the racing this week ( Does any other fleet provide race officers?) and he had set a very long course for us in the fairly light south westerly wind. We started with a beat from W all the way to N which meant crossing the main area of the lake to reach the nature reserve arm. Dan and Neil went up the left with the remaining three of us taking the right. It wasn’t until you got to the arm that you found out who had made the right choice. John and Martin rounded the mark first followed by Geoff and Jim with Dan and Neil very close behind, so clearly no real advantage which way you went. In order to give a more accurate report of proceedings, Festina remained at a discrete distance to see what was developing. (I won’t blame the old boat this time.)
Spinnakers up for the next leg to I, with John still in the lead, then a spinnaker gybe down to H, back across to C before going back down to W, by which time Dan had taken quite a lead. The first lap had taken almost an hour but the sea breeze was starting to appear so the next lap passed a bit quicker. Dan and Geoff again decided to take differing routes to N and this time it worked to Geoff’s advantage and he managed to close the gap. Much closer racing between the two of them on this lap with the lead changing but Dan just taking the honours at the gun.
After lunch the wind had got up to a more respectable 3-4 and the race was over a slightly shorter course. Still the long beat to N but missing out on H and C with a spinnaker gybe at M instead. With Jim now at the helm they got away well and John, now with Sue as crew, keeping up with them. I got the beat completely wrong this time and Spike showed me mercy by shortening my race to just two laps while the others did a third one. ( Or did he just want to go home and not wait for me to finish?) Jim took first place with John second.
All in all, a good day to be on the water.
Keith
