Long Distance Race

 
Long Distance Race
29th May 2016

Fifteen boats took to the water for the Long Distance Race, the wind was NNE and Force 4.
At the start of the race with fifteen boats milling around the start line as the start signal sounded there were clearly a few boats over the line so a second signal was sounded and the Individual Recall flag was hoisted to indicate to the fleet that some boats were over the line; three boats returned and restarted the race.
In the meantime, the Hornet took an early lead as the boats headed off to SP1, not far behind was the Contender and a Laser, whilst the Hornet continued to sail out to sea the Contender and Laser tacked towards the mark, the Hornet tacked a few minutes after and this tactic seemed to pay off since sailing along toward SP1 he seems to have maintained his lead.
After rounding SP1, the Hornet appears to be experiencing some problems with its spinnaker and the Contender has gone into the lead, this temporary glitch in the Hornet has been sorted and now it is chasing after the Contender. However, once again the Hornet appears to be having problems with its spinnaker and it has been taken down and stowed away, coming up to third place and flying a blue spinnaker is the Laser 2000. In fourth place is a Laser and fifth the RS 500 flying its yellow kite and chasing down the Laser, behind the RS 500 is another Laser and then the Vago with its red kite and rest of the fleet are sailing in a follow my leader formation.
The Contender is still holding its lead and in pursuit is the Hornet who is still experiencing some problem with its red kite but once again this is quickly rectified and now it is a question of who gets to SP2 first the Hornet or the Laser 200 as they approach the mark from different angles.
The Contender has now completed its first lap with the Hornet in second and the Laser 2000 in third, vying for fourth place are two Lasers 161766 is in fourth but is being challenged by 130727, then come Lasers 208321, 172009 and 42839. At the Distance Mark Laser 161766 has water at the mark, but the fleet is quite well spread out and though most have completed the first lap there are still some who have yet to reach SP3.
The Contender has once again extended its lead over the Hornet and the Laser 2000 who have yet to round SP1, having rounded the mark the Hornet has put up its spinnaker and is now pulling away from the Laser 200 who has also put up its spinnaker, in the meantime the Contender has rounded SP2 and is on its way to SP3, after rounding SP3 and down to the Distance Mark to complete the second lap and start its third lap.
The Contender is now beating up to SP1 and is quite possibly going to start lapping some of the other boats who are still on their second lap. The Hornet has now started its third leg, the Laser 2000 has just rounded the Distance mark and in pursuit of the Hornet who appears to have some gear failure and is retiring from the race.  The Laser 2000 is now heading towards SP1, in the meantime, the Contender has begun to lap some of the other boats whilst sailing towards SP2. The Laser 2000 upon rounding SP1 has raised its blue kite and heading for SP2, the Contender has sailed round SP3 and is heading up to the Distance Mark to begin its fourth lap.
The remainder of the fleet appears fairly well spread out, the RS500 appears to be retiring from the race after a few capsizes, this is their second time they have raced their boat and in quite windy conditions they have done very well.
The Race Officer has taken the decision to shorten the Race as the Laser 2000 is approaching SP3 and put up the Shortened Course Flag and sounded two Sound Signals to let the Racers know.  The Laser 2000 is the first to finish but this race is a Handicap Race and the results will be worked out on the amount of laps sailed and the individual boat handicaps.

Results
1st Contender 701 Steve Owen
2nd Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
3rd Laser Radial 172900 James Woodward