Testy Day at the Maylandsea Winter series:

Low grey wet cloudy conditions blotted out the skyline to Mundon spit. The wading birds seemed to be stuck in the wet gooey mud. A light breeze from the North chilled out any idea of it being a fun sailing day.
However, on entering the clubhouse the sounds of laughter rattled around the early takers of coffee and bacon rolls. It appears that the sailing committee had posted the Mk2 edition of the winter course card. It was noted that a notice was posted later in the day, which read.
(The sailing committee would like to thank all the helpful competitors for their advice and keenness in pointing out the errors in the Mk2 course card and all the items raised have been noted and will be resolved for races 5 and 6) well we can but hope!
By the time the fleet had assembled on the start line the rain had stopped and the wind had set in 12 knots N. to N.E. on a rapid incoming tide. The start was again fiercely contested with the Lasers, Finn, Fireballs and Merlins pushing hard to the submerged spit end of the line. David Islin, sailing a Fireball, won both the morning and afternoon starts with a daring and surgical type manoeuvring in a quickly tightening gaggle of assorted boats, popping out bang on the starting signal leaving the following fleet to exchange verbal requests of “room” and “why me God”. The coming together of lips and ideas on the sailing rules was done in the best of sailing tradition with no humour, but with fun in mind and being just out for reach of most. The fleet quickly spread out on the wind ward leg to the top of the bay with Keith in the Finn rounding Mark 4 first. However, Keith took off on a sight seeing tour giving hope to Jacko and Lorna that the race could be won. David having won the start sadly hung onto the south side one tack too many and lost out in a big way.
Nick Radley (Phantom) recovering from a doggy start got hold of the lead when passing Jacko with awesome two sail reaching boat speed, only later to round Lawling in the wrong direction. Sadly this lead to a throwing of the toys out of the pram and a retirement. Nick, restored the brain cells for the second race, but as it happens a joining up with other boats on Spit mark, rendered turns following the race start, but he regained composure to finish 3rd in the race.
Malcolm and Tony, Fireball, having survived the horror that there were 23 marks, shortened to 17 marks to be rounded and that Dave, fellow Fireballerr, blistered the starts, and being surrounded by Finns and Phantoms made the best move he could and maintained his 3rd place overall.
The Laser race is on! With Clive again very much in the front line at the start, and Martin having to work with what’s left. But Martin ever the fighter and knowing the line “it’s never over till it’s over” beavered away removing Clive’s leading Laser crown.

Keith, Jacko and Lorna ended up with a 1st and 2nd each with Jacko’s win in the second race being some what luck, finishing in a dying wind with the tide gaining pace. Not entirely fair for the slower boats.
As it turned out it was a testy days sailing, in a variable shifty wind with a brisk tide on a course of short legs and not much room for error.

Notables: The diving duck competition has opened with Ron and Elizabeth (Merlin) setting a well rehearsed and practised standard
Ron and Elizabeth also finished 4th in the second race.
Tony King and Louise have re-launched Merlin 3230, sadly the bungs were missing.

Thanks to Peter Freshwater for the photos

Next race day is on the 30th Nov. at 11:50

Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 4 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 5 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 12 points
4th Finn Laurence Maudsley 15 points
5th Laser Martin Tarling 15 points
6th Laser Clive Tarling 17 points