A slightly reduced number arrived at Westbere to discover very little wind and patchy ice across the lake… Where were the others?? The wind had enough west in it to give a beat to no 6, but was shifty enough to create a chaotic pre-start.
The start was as tight as ever, with a second gun to challenge the consiounce of the guilty. Most guilty must have been Roger who immediately went back - least was Sophie who was sailing away from the line when the gun went (good question!!).
For a moment it looked like Roger was going to sail around everybody and lead to the first mark, but eventually your author found himself round first, followed by Lee Goodey and Simon Northrop. A very dodgy reach/run/fetch/beat to no 8 saw your author pull clear and a melee going on behind. Following a trip to no 3 another ‘island’ decision loomed - windward or leeward to no 1? Your author went leeward, most of the rest went to windward (thanks Simon), but places barely changed.
The committee decided on a second lap so we grovelled our way back to no 6, and then back down the lake. It seemed to take ages, but at the finish your author held on to take the gun, with Lee just pipping Simon for 2nd. Tom Goodey took 4th ahead of the fast recovering Sophie.
Another good race, but many more to go… Maybe we’ll get some wind (hope not!)
