WITH high pressure dominating, only light airs were available for the morning race combined with the occasional gusty puffs of wind, which kept sailors on their toes to get the best speed from their sails.

Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert (Kestrel) had a late start, and John Dabbs (Gull) unfortunately had to do a penalty turn for a windward/leeward boat rule infringement right on the start line, which delayed his progress.

Once the fleet had rounded a congested Dam Green mark, the Lasers (all in full rig) took control with Jane Anderson taking the lead. However, she got stuck in a dead spot at Inlet and Bob Sampson and Steve Axford in their Lasers were able to catch her up. Just as they were about to overtake her she got a puff of wind, which allowed her to glide round the mark and set off for West.

Meanwhile, there was an ongoing place shuffle between Dabbs, John Buckett (Otter) and the Pollard/Gilbert Kestrel for fifth, sixth and seventh.

The race was shortened from six laps to three in such light airs, Sampson just missing out to Axford at the finish line when Axford luffed him the wrong side of the mark (another windward/leeward incident) and Sampson had to do a turn to cross and finish.

In the afternooon race the wind remained light and variable with the gusty puffs more prolonged and stable as the sea breeze began to kick in.

A flock of ducks led the fleet at the start with Jane Anderson once again first round Dam Green. The procession was much as the morning race with Bob following and Steve not far behind.

The wind continued to shift round from southeasterly to a more northerly direction and with the sea breeze fully kicking in on the second lap, the fleet could settle down a little and enjoy the race.

Graham Joyce (Laser) and John Savage (Otter) had joined for the afternoon with Joyce maintaining a steady fourth position with Spiller challenging him on all the laps. But at the back of the fleet the smaller boats were quietly getting on with their race with John Buckett finishing sixth, John Dabbs seventh, Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert eighth and finally John Savage bringing up the rear.

Thanks were expressed to James Pollard for carrying out the Officer of the Day duties and writing this report and Mandy Pollard for her photograph.

See this week’s Post for the results.