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A lull in the wind, the close proximity of the shore and a
short line combined together to make for an interesting start
to the first race. With some boats stuck on the line and some
even aground, Graham Camm and Zoë Ballantyne managed to
slip away up the first beat, closely pursued by Mark and Emma
Simpson. The positions in the top half of the fleet remained
unchanged for the rest of the race.
Race 2 saw some unexpected wind shifts at about a minute before
the start. Graham and Zoë again eased away from the rest
of the fleet. This time the chase was lead by Howard Chadwick
and Helen Nicholson and not far behind, John and Alison Cheetham.
The fleet bunched around the leeward mark and many of the top
places changed hands. As the fleet sailed up the final beat some
crews read the wind shifts better than others and the place changes
were reversed. Graham and Zoë finished first, clear of the
main fleet, Howard and Helen were second with John and Alison
third.
Graham and Zoë had 1st place in the bag with a race to
spare. Neil and Katie McInnes took the opportunity to test drive
a Numinous and the rest of the fleet got ready to compete for
the minor places. With results spread amongst a number of boats,
2nd and 3rd places were still there for the taking.
Mark and Emma got their best start of the day and initially
lead the fleet up the first beat. It was Philip and Helen David
who rounded the windward mark in first place, closely followed
by John and Alison Cheetham and then the rest of the fleet. The
shortest race of the day saw the fleet complete just one lap
of the course. By the finish Philip and John had move further
ahead to finish 1st and 2nd, Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson
had moved up into third place and Howard and Thomas Steavenson
claimed their second 4th place of the day.
It had been an excellent day of close and exciting racing
in beautiful sunny conditions. Congratulations to the top three
finishers, Graham Camm and Zoë Ballantyne (N3469), Philip
and Helen David (N3217) and John and Alison Cheetham (N3209).
Many thanks to all those who made the effort and travelled to
the event.
Mark and Emma Simpson, N3472
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