HAPPY DAYS!

When the photographs of Saturday’s racing arrived from George Winder they just had one caption for the lot – Happy Days.  And compared to a month ago it is – not only one design racing on Saturdays and Sundays but, this Sunday, a couple of Dragons out for a sail.

Justin Waples reported there were four RCODs on the line on Saturday – in fact two were over.  Leads stretched and shrunk throughout the two and a half hour race.  On four of the six mark roundings three boats went round literally next to each other.  Corpo  Santo (16) had an action packed race dominating the first beat only to find she was OCS at the start and finally retired after a firm grounding during the second beat.  She was showing terrific boat speed until that happened and is one to watch.  Final result, Corsair (8) 3^rd, Coralie (9)  2^nd with Florence Fisher a willing third crew leaving Cormorant (12 – Justin) squeezing ahead after the last mark to take the gun by just 9 seconds crewed by Albert Waples who was making a winning return after five years of no sailing.

Seven Squibs were out there too enjoying some close tacking along the north shore and at the end of the day What’s The Story came out ahead with Easy second and Humphrey third

The Dragons have not been able to go out sailing because of the social distancing rules but now that the RYA has issued new guidelines on how to sail with people from up to three households this has become possible.  No racing just yet but Sunday was the perfect day for testing boats, sails and skills.  Two boats were out – the pictures were taken by Rene Nel crewing on Still Crazy – a great name! It was an exciting day as Ian Gray had acquired this new to him Dragon at the end of last season when there was no wind, since then the Dragons have been locked down so this was his first sail with Ian Simons and Rene crewing.  The Dragon seen from their boat is Dublin Bay.

We all look forward to more sailing next weekend.