After getting the boat off its trailer, down near to the slip way and rigging it, the visibility had only marginally improved and after launching it was little better. Finally the mist lifted enough for the RO, Chris Turner, to set a course, and allow the safety boat to reposition a couple of marks for the fleet to go round the outside of the pond.
Amazingly there was an enormous turnout – for Piddinghoe – with nineteen boats going afloat, only one of which although starting did not complete the course. There was one capsize, Paul Ryan (Laser, Hardway SC) managed to tip it in when launching.
At the start it was the aforementioned Paul Ryan who shot out in front on starboard tack and then managed to tack across in front of the pursuing pack. Next up was the Laser II of Jack Turner and James Bovington (NSSC) followed by Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC), Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC) and then Darren Field in his Byte CII (NSSC). Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) – Race 1 winner – was behind these and the two Streakers – Alan Simmons, Lancing SC and Laurence Venus, NSSC – where well behind this gaggle.
At the end of the first lap the order was sorted out with Paul.R in top spot, Ed.T next, Jonty.F third and Laurence.V fourth. Lying fifth was Julian Dobson (Laser full rig, NSSC) and Alan.S in sixth spot. By the end of the second lap, in the still light breeze, Ed.T had moved into the lead with Paul.R behind him and Laurence.V up a place to third. Further back in the fleet Darren.F was up from 9th to 7th with Michael.V down to 9th. By the end of lap 4 the order was Ed.T in front with Laurence.V next then Paul.R and Alan.S in fourth, a sequence that was to remain until the finish although Alan did give Paul a few shocks when he almost got ahead on a few occasions. Back down the fleet it was Jack.T in the Laser II who lost out most, apparently getting his centreboard stuck in the mud on three occasions in almost exactly the same place at the end of the short windward leg, close to the clubhouse (and Dad Chris), dropping from 7th at the end of lap 1 to 14th in lap 7. Alice Smith and Alex Stonard (Laser II, NSSC) were slightly better off ending up at 12th in lap 7 from 14th in lap 1 – it really was not breezy enough for this class of dinghy.
The other Lasers, Graham Hardy, Bill Wates, and Chas Humphries (all NSSC members) had their own little race, within a race, with Graham.H leading the field into 9th spot, on the water at the finish, ahead of Chas.H and then Bill.W. Michael.V in the RS 200, although using his spinnaker on several occasions, dropped slowly down th ranks from 8th in lap 1 to12th at the close.
Amongst the tail enders, Rupert Smith (Mirror single handed, NSSC) stayed constant in 15th position for 5 laps he managed to complete, once again not really enough breeze to move him round. Terry Jones (Pico, NSSC) just dropped one place in the race from 16th in laps 1 to 4 to 17th at his finish. Similarly Josh Smith (Topper, NSSC) dropped from 17th in lap 4 to 18th in lap 5, whilst John Smith (Pico, NSSC) went from 18th to 19th in lap 4.The Magno sailed by D Ford (NSSC) started the race in 19th, last, position and clawed up to 16th by the end of lap 5 but then retired.
By the time all the boats were ashore and packed up for the day the mist rolled in over the water once more. With the results calculated it was a clean sweep for the two Streakers with Laurence 1st and Alan 2nd.
Results (unofficial, unchecked):-
1st. Laurence Venus, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd Ed Thorburn, 4th. Paul Ryan, 5th Jonty Freeman, 6th. Julian Dobson, 7th.Darren Field, 8th.Tom Taylor, 9th.Graham Hardy, 10th. Chas Humphries, 11th. Bill Wates, 12th Michael Veale, 13th Alice Smith, 14th Jack Turner, 15th. Rupert Smith, 16th. Terry Jones, 17th. Josh Smith, 18th John Smith,19th D.Ford
Alan.S 1700
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