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The three back
to back races on Saturday were held in blustery conditions.
The AGM on
Saturday night was followed by a very convivial dinner with 30 FD sailors and supporters
organised and hosted and by Gill and David Wilkins.
On Sunday
morning the wind howled despite the club shore being in the lee of the
surrounding land - the gusts streaking across the water and reports of white
water on the leeward side of the Rutland Water deterred a few, others
returned having been savaged by the gusts with only one boat finishing the
penultimate race and none starting the final race.
Jamie Whittaker
crewing his newly acquired FD helmed by former Mirror World Champion and
workmate Ross Kearney had good speed but were blighted by a series of gear
failures. They finished 5th in race 3
Vicky and Steven Samuel
sailing their first FD event together got off to a good start finishing the
first race in 5th position.
Paul
Atkinson and Jim Harrop had recovered from their adventures to the Worlds in
Spain and were determined to race but due to an unfortunate capsize waiting
for the start of the second race were unable to sail in races 2 and 3 but
did venture out on Sunday morning. |
Neil Pye
teamed up with Colin Burns but were unable to sail on Saturday. Like others
Sunday gusts proved too much despite a valiant start.
Keith
Martin and John Lansley had good speed until their spinnaker blew out early
on in the racing on Saturday. Keith wisely decided that the conditions on
Sunday were not appropriate for his farewell FD open meeting leaving a keen
and eager John looking for a helm in 2008!
The
battle for second, third and fourth positions was as always very intense.
Strang & Alex repeated their Nationals performance with Julian & Peter
managing to beat Peter & Richard by half a boat length in the third race in
a dramatic running finish through a fleet of Contenders. Strang and Alex
struggled round the fourth race with a broken goooseneck attempting to
finish under genoa alone but in the end retired. Peter & Richard capsized on
the way to the start and decided that age would take its toll. Meanwhile
Julian & Peter watched from the shore.
Toby
Dale and James Cole in an FD borrowed from Richard, proved that they had not
lost their touch and convincingly won all four races. On Sunday they were on
clew 4 with mast fully raked back! Toby demonstrated considerable commitment
by driving all around the South Coast to pick up Neil and Richard's boats
using Neil's double trailer to take them to Rutland and to then return them
to Kent & Hampshire. |
