Lookers Volvo Otter Int Cadet Open Meeting 24 Jun 2006
With the wind filling in nicely, Race Officer Paul Noonan got the event underway.
Race 1 The fleet split after the start with those sailing up the middle winning. George Somers / Claudia Wood-Hill led at the first mark and were closely followed by Becky Longman / Alex Corby, James Dwyer-Wilkinson / James Arney and George Ayre / William Kennedy, Charlie Matthews / William Arney. These places held for the remainder of the first lap. However, the second lap saw positions changing throughout the fleet. George / Claudia, leading into the final mark, were unfortunately mixed up with the tail-enders which allowed the following boats to take over. George / William touching the final mark in 1st place allowed Charlie / William and Amy Seabright / Katie Barr to take 1st and second places with George / William 3rd and Becky / Alex fourth.
Race 2 This race was again a closely fought race with downwind / tide tactics playing a major part. The first lap was led by Tye Wichard / Ben Thame who were now beginning to show good speed, with Charlie / William closely behind and then a gap to the chasing pack. By the end of the second lap and the finish, Tye / Ben kept their first place, and Arthur Henderson / Mary Henderson managed to play the tidal game better than the local sailors to sail into second place. Amy / Katie were third and Charlie / William fourth.
Race 3 Amy / Katie were unbeatable in the third race, having led from the start, although the chasing pack were frequently changing positions. At the end, the positions were Amy / Katie, Tye / Ben, Becky / Alex and Laura Barr / Chris Thame.
After the racing the barbecue and disco were enjoyed by all, and a good night’s sleep was called for.
An early start was planned to enable racing to complete before the England / Ecuador football match, with the wind a little stronger than the previous day.
Race 4 At the start, Harriet Smith / Chris Sycamore made a good start, but failed to take full advantage, allowing George / William and Arthur / Mary to get past her. The entire fleet sailed up the left hand side of the course, except for one visiting boat – Arthur / Mary who proved the locals wrong by making the first mark in second place. By the end of the first lap the positions were Tye / Ben, Theo Bull / Georgia Stone, George / William, Amy / Katie, but the rest of the fleet were not far behind. The race finished Tye / Ben, Theo / Georgia, Arthur / Mary, Robert Henderson / Hatty Ayre.
Race 5 The fleet split with 7 boats now following the lead from the visiting boats and sailing up the right side of the beat. At the end of the first lap the positions were George / William, Charlie / William, Arthur / Mary, Robert / Hattie. However the racing was by now very close with positions changing all the time in the top 6 positions. The race finished with Charlie / William winning, followed by Amy / Katie, Clare Dallimore / Sam Barr, Robert / Hattie. This set up a close finish with only one point separating the leading two boats.
The wind had increased for Race 6. George / William led the race from the start and finished convincing winners. Tye / Ben also maintained their second place from the start, and these two boats were followed by a large pack. The finishing positions were George / William, Tye / Ben, James Dodd / Tom Penman, Charlie / William.