Autumn Series 1 September 10th, Temperature 30 degrees. Wind - less
Published 16:36 on 10 Sep 2023
On a Mediterranean Morning in Herne Bay with an early heat haze on the water and a temperature of 29 degrees and climbing, the dinghy guys started to rig up their Lasers Aero, H2 and Laser 4000. The 10.00 am start of the race was postponed due to little wind. A South Westerly was focast but the easterly sea breeze was kicking in early. Thanks to the race team of Russell Kyte RO, Colin his assistant, Simone and Gary in the Safety Boat and the tea bar manned amazingly well by Mary (A new Member) we were ready to go.
Race 1.
With the wind possibly going to die any minute as the South Westerly tried to cancel out the sea breeze, Russell set a figure of eight, Windward /Leeward course. The run was going to be against an increasing tide (everyone's nightmare), but we had every right to have confidence in Russell's decision as the Sea breeze took over.
After the start, places changed back and forth except for the three old foxes. Nick Stephens, Colin Smith and Allan McNeil. The three managed somehow to get away from the rest of the fleet in extremely trying conditions and so it ended with:
1st Nick
2nd Colin
3rd Allan.
4th Guy
5th Dave
I ran out of paper for the rest of the fleet I'm afraid.
Race 2.
I think someone obviously woke Colin up at the start of the second race as he rounded the first mark with Nick and Allan once again on his tail. It looked as if he might get away, but was once again hounded down by Nick and Allan. A little further back Guy, and Dave were having a ding\dong with the Aero of Phil Rees beginning to eat up yards. In and out of this column of Lasers was the Laser 4000 of Karl Royer and Jonathan Dunn making a nuisance of themselves jibing all the way on the down wind stretch. Lester Warwick came from nowhere to pass our commodore Richard de Lisle. With Colin looking to come home with the spoils a brilliant bit of Lee bough sailing saw Nick get inside him at the last mark and take the honours.
1st Nick
2nd Colin
3rd Allan
4th Dave
5th Guy
6th Phil
7th Lester
8th Richard
The race room team of Russell and Colin were exemplary and a good day was had by all. Thank you to race team, and as dad Jones always says, "If this isn't good, I don't know what is"
Last updated 06:49 on 17 July 2024