It was great to see the new crop of trainees at the club to kick off the 2020 training season. After an introduction this week next week will see them on the water hopefully in some warmer weather.
In the afternoon a fleet of exclusively NS14 and B14s raced in Pennants 1 & 2 back to back.
It was a cool grey day with plenty of rain the airport weather station teels us the temperature hovered around 10' but cooled as the day progressed.
This did not deter our brave sailors who were keen to get the Pennant season underway.
At the start of race 1 the breeze was a SSW moving into the south around 10 knots gusting only to about 12 knots.
The fleet of 3 Bs and 3 NS's got away cleanly at 1:14 with little seperating the boats and not until well up the leg did Phantom and Early Warning get a bit of space over the NS's with Serenity next then Pumpkin Eater and Viva la Vida in close combat and Bang Bang pulling out with a rigging issue.
As the race proceeded Phantom held a strong lead going into the final two down wing legs but with a slight wind shift and new inexperienced crew came unstuck just before the wing mark gifting the lead to Early Warning and Serenity well clear of Pumpkin Eater and Viva la Vida.
Phantom eventually got the boat upright and tagged along astern of the last NS to finish last.
Early Warning Ross Daley and Tony VanGalen took the gun well clear of Serenity with a substantial gap to Pumpkin Eater ahead of Viva la Vida.
On Yardstick it was
Serenity Scott Wilkie and Lucas Foerder 1st from Early Warning Ross Daley and Tony VanGalen and Pumpkin Eater Melinda Lord and Georgia Ottway in third.
Handicap
Pumpkin Eater first from Serenity second and Early Warning third.
Pennant Race two
Bang Bang fixed their problem and rejoined the fleet but Phantom headed for a warm shower after spending an extended time in the very cool water.
The race I did not see so can only post the results however it was a good close race in the NS14s with Serenity just pipping Viva la Vida by less than a second and Early Warning leading from start to finish and Bang Bang well back for the entire race.
Yardstick results
Early Warning first Serenity second and Viva la Vida third.
Handicap
Bang Bang first Pumpkin Eater second and Early Warning third.
Next week it is Training Week 2 and the Anchor Wetsuits mini series, hopefully sailed in a bit warmer weather.
