Morning Series D and Master Challenge Cup

Morning Series D
Sunday 10th July 2016
This morning's race was postponed to the early afternoon as Herne Bay Sailing Club were hosts to the Les Golding Memorial Race for local Running Clubs. 

Eleven boats took to the water for the Morning Series D Race, the wind was blowing from the South West and the conditions were quite gusty at times.  From the start of the race, Laser 165710 went into an early lead and by the time he had reached SP1 that lead had increased considerably.  In second place was the Laser 2000 22625, then Laser Radial 143583. The intricate figure of eight course was a challenge to follow not only from the boats racing the course but for the watchers on the shore, There were a number of capsizes and a few retirements as the conditions became increasingly windier as the race progressed.

The Race Officer made the decision to shorten the race as there was another race to be held that afternoon and the Race Officer for the later race was out sailing in the Morning Series D race.

Results
1st Laser 165710 Colin Smith
2nd Laser Radial 143583 Richard De Lisle
3rd Laurie Dengate and Mags Gawecka

Masters Challenge Cup
Sunday 10th July 2016

With a change of Race Officer, the course was to remain the same, the wind was still blowing from the South West but it did appear to have increased.  The Race Officer Colin Smith came in to the main area of the Club and, sounding reminiscent of his father, he informed the sailors that the race would be getting under way promptly.

Once again eleven boats went afloat for this second race of the day, the start was not as straightforward as the previous race as the Laser 2000 was over the line at the start. This was seen by the Race Officer and a second sound signal was heard and the Laser 2000 returned to restart the race, leaving the Lasers to head off in a follow my leader formation. The RS Vision raised its yellow kite and on doing so pulled up into third place but the lead boat is Laser Radial 143583 which is holding on to first place.

With the fleet now all tightly bunched together it has become difficult to say which is the lead boat but the Laser 2000 has made up places in the fleet.  Two Lasers have pulled away from the rest of the fleet. The wind has started to increase and the gusts could be seen rushing across the water and it was in these flukey conditions that there were a number of capsizes out by SP3 leading to a number of retirements from the Race.

Once again a decision was made to shortened the Race.

Results
1st Laser 4.7 154831 Matt Bradfield
2nd RS Vision 1162 Phil and Julia Rees
3rd Laser Radial 143583 Richard De Lisle

Report and photographs by Liz Smith