The third race was held in very mixed conditions on the first Saturday of August. The course entailed a full tour of high water marks around the harbour.
The largest outing to date included Adrian and Mat Woods, Rob Barnes and Seb Chilvers, The Smyths’, and Nick and Bay.
The start provided much excitement and amusement as the Port tacking boat took out the RS boat sending them into a spin. The wind then died leaving all boats struggling to cross the line with no forward motion for steerage.
The Smyths’ took advantage out of the situation and led off to the first mark with the other trailing after several attempts to get moving.
They held this lead to South West Pilsey after which the downhill ride lead to this lead being eroded by the Woods. Barnes & Chilvers used their old junior fortnight knowledge to pull back through the fleet into the mix although the lack of a course card had confusion over the need to gybe past Heathrow. The leg back too Heathrow (AKA Runway) was lost on them and a couple of capsizes added to the loss of direction.
By the last leg back to the finish the wind had gusted to twenty knots and the Woods had finally pulled ahead with the Smyths’ third. The remaining two boats were out of enthusiasm for further tours of the harbour and retired.
The Next race will be an informal day to East Head – details to be confirmed by Adrian.
