Wind shift ruins races as spectacle
Last updated: 22/10/2009 11:53:00
The summer points sailing series on Oulton Broad ended on Sunday in summer-like weather, the main problem being a shortage of wind.
The first races were spoilt by a massive wind shift just before the starts which ruined the course by getting rid of the beats and turning the races into processions and in all the races the first boat at the first mark was still there at the end.
In the first Fast Handicap race Duncan Madin in his RS300 led throughout but his 37 second lead over Eric Pearce produced a tie on handicap while the leading Laser sailed by Andy Catchpole was well adrift on time as he beat Alan Gisborne by just six seconds.
Ian Moore, with David Gooch as crew, got the best start in the squibs and never looked like being caught. John Lockwood, sailing single handed, came second with David Hannant and Ian Colby also not able to make any impression.
Phil Long had a very similar race in the waveneys as he got away at the start and Trevor Balls and Gordon Stables could do nothing about it.
The wind dropped a little for the second series and a change of course made the races more interesting. Andy Bedwell won the lasers from Andy Catchpole and Alan Gisborne in a long slow race.
The mixed keels turned out to be a waveney benefit as Trevor Balls led throughout, although Jack Pickering hung on and the gap was never very big, while Neil Bowles was steadily picking up places to finish third.