RNLI Race

 
R.N.L.I. Race
Sunday 1st May 2016
This afternoon's race is in aid of the R.N.L.I. and each competitor puts in a donation to take part in this race.
Once again there has to be a temporary delay to the start due to low water and to allow for another mark to be laid.  After a short while the AP Posponment flag has been taken down and now the starting sequence will now get under way. With the start sequence underway, the boats are all milling around the start line.
At the start, the Laser 2000 of Brian and Maria Golton had a great start, timing it perfectly, however, the Contender 701 has gone into an early lead, in second place is the Laser 2000 closely followed by two Lasers both which have tacked off along with the Contender while the Laser 2000 is still sailing in an easterly direction for the time being.
The first boat to round E1 is the Contender, then the Laser 2000 who has raised the Spinnaker, then the two Lasers, closely followed by the ISO who also raises it's Spinnaker and this enables the ISO to sail past the two Lasers and go in pursuit of the Laser 2000.  The Contender has sailed past SP1 as has the Laser 2000 and hot on it's heels is the ISO, then there are three Lasers.
Moving away from the lead boats temporarily and reporting on some of the other competitors, the Feva of Luke Herhily and Douglas Oliver have also got their distinctive yellow Spinnaker flying but the catamaran, it is the maiden sail of the Hurricane down at the Sailing Club, also the Yellow Pico of Sally Pratley Woodward is sailing for the first time down at the Sailing Club.
Coming up to begin the second part of lap 1, the Contender has rounded W1 and is still maintaining it's lead over the Laser 2000 which is being pursued by the ISO and a bevy of Lasers.  Whilst, the Contender is still ahead of the fleet, there has been a change of position in second place and it is the ISO which has passed the Laser 2000.  Having completed the 1st lap, the Contender begins the triangle which is the first part of lap 2, yet again the position of second place is being heavily contested and the Laser 2000 has once more moved back into second place, whilst the Laser 2000 and Laser 165710 favour a more inshore course, the ISO has sailed further out and it looks like this may have paid off as it has rounded the mark and raised it's spinnaker and pulled away from the other two boats and is heading off to SP1, the Laser 2000 has rounded E1 and raised its spinnaker and is sailing off towards SP1, the Laser 2000 and Laser 165710 are sailing a more direct course toward SP1 then the ISO, it appears the ISO is sailing directly towards W1 instead of the SP1 and this oversight means it has lost two places and is now in fourth place.
The Race Officer has taken the decision to shorten the race as the lead boat - the Contender - rounds W1,  the second and third boats which are the Laser 2000 and Laser 165710 are swapping positions as they head towards the finish line, however, the Laser 2000 manages to retain its second place and the Laser 165710 finishes in third place, however, this race is a Handicap Race and whilst the Contender finished first, it did not win on Handicap.
 
Results
1st Laser 2000 2041 Brian and Maria Golton
2nd Laser 165710 Colin Smith
3rd Contender 701 Steve Owen

Report and photographs by Liz Smith.