Strong fleet enjoys sunshine at Oulton

With plenty of sunshine and a steady, but very cold, easterly breeze, Sunday was possibly the best sailing day so far this year on Oulton Broad and there was a big increase in the turn-outs.

In the first Fast Handicap race, Richard Smith and Richard Fryer had a cracking race in their RS400s way out in front of the rest of the fleet and at the end were only separated by a mere six seconds, with Smith taking the winning bell.

Back in sixth and seventh places were David Frary in his Finn and Alan Cone the leading Laser separated by just three seconds. When the handicaps were worked out they all changed places with Cone moving up to first, Frary second and Smith third with just seven seconds covering the three.

There were nine Squibs out and a good start was essential and it was Jim Tubby who got it, leading at the first mark and steadily pulling away from the rest to win comfortably. David Gooch and Bryan Riley had a close race for second place which in the end was taken by Gooch.

The second Fast Handicap race was looking much the same as the first until Richard Smith pulled out on the second round leaving Richard Fryer to finish well out in front followed home by Veronica Falat saling her Contender and although there was over a minute and a half separating them on handicap they dead heated for second place as David Frary moved up to record a win.

Alan Cone was again the leading Laser in the class race but behind him there was quite a lot of place changing until at the end Steve Cole took second from Jonathon Jones.

The pattern of the second Squib race was very similar to the first but this time it was Owen Delany who got the best start and sailed away from the fleet to win easily.

Bryan Riley and David Gooch again contested second place and this time the result was reversed as Riley took second.