Autumn Series D Sunday 25th September 2016

Race One
The start sequence for Race One are under away, some genteel shouts of STARBOARD can be heard drifting across the water as the boats mass for the start.  The fleet of 17 boats have now started the Race, however, one Laser has managed to capsize just after the Start.
All the boats are beating up toward W1 and as usual some boats favour sailing further out and others parallel to the shore line.  The Contender has favoured the course further out to sea but it has not worked out in his favour and the Laser 2000 has got to W1 and is the first boat to round the mark and head off up toward SP1 with their Blue Spinnaker aflying, their lead has increased over the Laser and the Contender who are in second and third place respectively.  The Contender has gone past the Laser and is now in hot pursuit of the Laser 2000.
At SP1, the RS Feva narrowly avoided capsizing as they rounded the mark, thus holding on to their 5th place.  Meanwhile, the race between the Contender and Laser 2000 is becoming a game of cat and mouse as they vye for first place on the leg down toward the North mark.  The Contender has managed to go into the lead and round E1 first.
After one lap the Race Officer has shortened the Race and the first boat to finish will be the Contender, however, the Results will be worked out on Handicap.

Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 200875 Ben Skull
3rd Contender 701 Steve Owen

Race Two
The start of this race was more compact with all the boats quite closely bunched and once again the genteel calling of STARBOARD could be heard assailing the ears of anyone passing or watching.
The Contender has gone off on a flyer and has got away from the other boats and rounded W1, in pursuit is the Laser 2000, with these two boats clear, there is a great deal of bunching around W1 and a number of capsizes around and about the mark.
The Contender has extended it's lead and is about to come up to complete the first lap, in second place is the Laser Radial of Richard De Lisle, then Laser 200875, Laser 42119 and then the Laser 2000, once again the Laser 2000 has managed to battle it's way back into second place.  As all the boats are having to tack down to the the DM off the club, is it better to stay out further or come inshore.  The Laser Radial of Richard De Lisle has taken the course further out whilst the Laser 2000 is leading the charge further in, however, the Laser Radial has rounded the DM ahead of the Laser 2000 and the Laser 4.7 154831.
Watching this race closely, as an observer I do get to set some spectacular sailing and today was no exception, the near capsize by the DM by Sally Pratley Woodward took me so by surprise that I forgot to capture the event on camera which is a shame because it certainly had style.  The Laser was in the process of capsizing when Sally instead of attempting to get on the dagger board jumped out of the boat, the boat righted itself and after a brief scramble Sally got back into the boat and carried on.
The Contender is still in the lead and has just rounded the North Mark and off toward E1, in the meantime the Laser Radial of Richard De Lisle is holding on to second place on the leg from W1 to SP1 but in his wake are the Laser 2000 and Laser 4.7. As the Laser Radial and Laser 2000 reach the SP1 mark, the Laser 2000 goes ahead of the Laser Radial.
The Race Officer has shortened the course and as the Contender is heading up toward the finish, it passes the Laser 2000 on it's way to E1, now this picture I did manage to get.

Results
Ist Contender 701 Steve Owen
2nd Laser Radial Richard De Lisle
3rd Laser 4.7 154831 Matt Bradfield