Otter Easter Egg 2015 11 Apr 2015

The 35 Otters were already to go after the briefing from the dual Race Officers of Matt Barr and Eddie Aspinall; the weather as the initial boats went off was good, however a squall came in, resulting in a wet introduction to the 2015 season for some!

Close racing was had from the Optimists, literally they might as well have been tied together, the racing between  Flo and Ben throughout all their races was that close! The Cadets again were close, the starts were hotly contested, both Freddie Pitcher and Scott Ellis challenged the experience of Joe and Scarlett for a while, while the top Laser of ex Otter James Hutton-Penman was keeping pace with his sister Kathryn and Matt J in their RS 2000; if you ever want to see a good team, watch them, they’re good! Good performances in the Lasers from Harry Phelps and a surprised Otter Weekly Editor Max when he wasn’t too far off the pace either.

In all everyone did their best in challenging conditions. Winners were Ben Hutton-Penman for the Optimist prize for another year, Martha Waples took the Topper prize, Kathryn Hutton-Penman and Matt Jayasekara taking the Handicap Fleet prize. Although James Hutton- Penman won the prize for the Lasers he graciously handed it to top Otter Harry Phelps, as, while James was allowed to race, the deal is that ex-Otters can’t take the prizes! The Cadets' prize was again won by Otter Commodore Scarlett Anderson and Amy Sheppard.

"Thank you"  to Sarah and Tim Mathews for the use of their new boat as the Committee boat, to Tony and Brenda for making sure that all the tables were laid for the sailors’ lunch, and the hardy Otter Spotter rescue crews who were out all day!