Late Series Summer A

Late Summer Series A
31st July 2016

Race One
For the last day of July, Late Summer Series A, two races were to be run for this afternoon.
 
At the start of the race, the fleet were quite tightly bunched together but it was Hornet 2126 who broke away from the fleet and went into an early lead, upon rounding SP1 - the first mark of the course, the Hornet increased it's lead, in second place was Laser 200878, then Laser 42839, closely followed by Laser 2000 2041, who has gradually been moving up the fleet, however, not far behind was a Laser and by the time they were rounding SP3 they were neck and neck.

Back at SP1, for some of the boats actually rounding the first mark was proving a bit of challenge but it has to be said that they stuck at it and eventually got round the mark.  On the leg down to SP4, the Laser 2000 has managed to hold on to fourth place and with some excellent spinnaker handling by Maria Golton (I am in danger of beginning to sound like Colin Sproxton) has now moved up into third.
The Hornet has rounded SP2 and now is about to lap a few of the boats who are trailing at the back of the fleet.  Laser 42 is valiantly working its way around the course, even though Laser 200832 has lapped it.  As there is another race to run before the water gets too low, the Race Officer has shortened the course.

The first boat to finish after the shortened Course signal was sounded was  the Comet Zero 128, then the Hornet, the gap between the Laser 200875 and Laser 2000 2041 is shortening and as the two boats head towards the finish line the Laser 2000 is very definitely catching up but the Laser managed to stay ahead and finish in second place, the results are worked out on a handicap system.

Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 200875 Ben Skull
3rd Laser 165413 Gary Danielwicz

Race Two
In Race One the winds were very light and flukey but before the start of the second race, the breeze has now increased, the starting sequence is underway and the boats are jockeying for position around the start line between Heron North and the Distance Mark.

At the start, the Hornet and the Laser 2000 have gone ahead of the Lasers, at SP1, the Laser 2000 rounded the mark first but keeping him him company is the Hornet and a Laser, the Hornet has just edged ahead of the Laser 2000  as they head for SP2, the Hornet has maintained its lead and increased it on the way down to SP3,  the Laser 2000 has raised its blue spinnaker, however, it is not until the Hornet has rounded SP3 that its white spinnaker goes up, back in third place there is tustle between Laser 200875 and Laser 165413 as to who will actually take third place and it appears that honour has gone to Laser 200875.

At SP1, having completed one lap of the course, in the lead still is the Hornet, then the Laser 2000, Laser 200875 and after that are the rest of the Lasers and the Comet Zero.  The fleet is quite well spread out with the Hornet still leading the way round, in second place is the Laser 2000 and in hot pursuit is Laser 200875.  Once again, the Race Officer has made the decision to shorten the race.

Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 200875 Ben Skull
3rd Laser 165413 Gary Danielwicz


 
 

Family sailing at Herne Bay Sailing Club.

Sailing at Herne Bay S.C. is not all about racing, it is about having fun, one little man by the name of Andrew who was sailing his Optimist in the shallow waters between his Dad who was acting as one marker and Ben Gardiner who was acting as the other marker, it became quite apparent that all three were having great fun. Andrew's mum was there also on her kayak, so much so I had to take some photos of this happy scene.

Report and photographs by Liz Smith.