Super Saturday 1

Over 50 Dinghies turned up for the first of this year’s Super Saturdays also incorporating the Otter Easter Regatta. A new format meant the club was packed for the briefing waiting for the race officer (Phil Aspinall) who hadn’t quite factored the tide when bringing the Committee boat alongside. With the wind light and patchy the boats worked hard to make it against the tide to the start line and avoid slipping back down the river. As the wind started to fill in, the racing sequence began and it looked like it was worth the wait, however just 4 fast handicap boats managed to make it across the start line with the rest of the fleet floating back. A decision was taken to abandon the race much to the chagrin of those who had crossed the line and shouts of joy from the rest of the fleet. As the slow handicap and oppies floated back to the club to have an early Easter egg or two, the fast handicap were able to have another attempt. Despite initially looking like it would be a repeat of the first, all the boats made it across the start line and around the course. The format of the racing meant that it was the average lap time which counted rather than where you finished or the number of laps performed so no one really had a clue where they had ended up until the results were collated, maths performed and results stuck up on the noticeboard/website by the Race team. In the end it was William Taylor (Phantom) who took first place ahead of James Hutton-Penman (RS Aero 7) and Malcolm Hutchings (Blaze). Special mention should go to those in the fleet who continued to race round the course (Lizzie Rand) despite being timed out, great perseverance! A gentle start to the Dinghy racing session with many new faces, a few boat changes and smiles all round as sailors were greeted with Easter eggs and Haribo courtesy of the onshore crew! Next Super Saturday is 18^th May so get it in your diary now (and don’t forget to register!)

Kind regards

Alex Porteous