A limited turnout for sailing on May 23rd saw some excellent racing in strong winds of around 15mph from the south-west with strong gusts at both ends of the course. The OD, Ken Fidler assisted by Martin Ashworth and Walter Aldridge set a simple course of three buoys with a middle B buoy set just past the river bend close to the Berkshire bank and taken on both legs to starboard. The top A buoy was in its usual place just above the cluster of willow trees and taken to starboard to force a gybe and the C buoy in front of the OD box also taken to starboard.
Two OKs and four Lightning 368s took the start and sailed up to the first buoy. When the sailors rounded the A buoy and tacked back down the course, James Long (OK 1990) sailed into the willow trees because the tiller extension parted company with the tiller. It took some time to extracate from the bank as the wind direction meant the boat was being pushed into the trees. He slowly sailed back to the clubhouse for repairs and. In the Lightnings, the racing was very close with Clive Evison (LN 304), Duncan Watts (LN 431) and Martin Evans (LN 150) jostling for the lead with a small gap over Jerome Dreux (LN 155). Martin had taken the lead over Duncan and Clive as they finished the lap and James rejoined the race behind Clive who he battled with for the rest of the race. Thus, Andrew rounded C buoy at the end of the first lap with a considerable lead in the Handicap fleet, but as he neared the bend a gust came through and he capsized and had difficulty getting back into the boat needing the assistance of the safety boat. He eventually retired from the race. Martin Evans came home first with Duncan Watts second (who capsized on a gybe at the A buoy late in the race but got going again quickly), Clive Evison third and Jerome Dreux fourth. James finished first in the Handicap class.
James was the only starter in the Handicap class for the second race and so the race didn’t count for Handicap points.
Andrew decided to sit out the afternoon, so James joined the Lightning fleet and prepared his Lightning (LN 251) during the lunchbreak. Duncan also missed the afternoon races due to prior commitments. The fleet started the afternoon with light drizzle which developed into a heavy downpour during the race, the wind also grew stronger during the race and ensure some good downwind planing in the strong gusts. The fleet were closely matched as they sailed down to the C buoy, but on the tacks back up the course Clive Evison and Martin Evans pulled away from the rest of the sailors and battled throughout the race ahead of Jerome Dreux and James Long who had started late delayed by completing the rigging on his Lightning. Martin capsized between the A buoy and the B buoy on the return leg allowing Clive to pull away and he finished the race with a good gap to second placed Martin. James overhauled Jerome on the third lap and came home third.
Martin Evans sat out the final race of the day so the fleet was reduced to three boats. Jerome and James battled down to the C buoy on the first lap with Clive behind after a late start. As they approached the C buoy a strong gust caused James to death roll his Lightning leaving Jerome with a good lead. James retired from the race. Clive chipped away at Jerome’s lead during the race eventually taking the lead and coming home first.
Martin Evans continues to lead the Lightning Spring Series with Clive closing in second after his three wins. In the Handicap Spring Series, Gary Adshead leads with a considerable points gap over James Long and Andrew Boxer.