RACE REPORT Autumn Series 5-6, Sat 23rd Sept 2023

Published 06:02 on 28 Sep 2023

A lovely late September afternoon with a decent SW breeze greeted the 14 competitors in the last of this year's Autumn Series.

To make the most of the weather and the early evening light, we set a long first race. Windward/leeward courses for all classes with the Fast going out to JJ and the Slow and Scows to Y, twice round in all cases.

Spinnaker set on the Herbert's Flying Fifteen took them directly downwind, while the other dinghies 'tacked' downwind to benefit from the faster reaching speeds. The Flying Fifteen crossed the finish line first in just over an hour but lost their place on handicap to Sally Ratcliffe in her Laser Radial.

A much shorter second race consisted of a starboard hand triangle around #, O and N. The dropping breeze suited Stuart Gummer's D-zero and he finished first across the line and first on handicap.

Just three dinghies formed the Slow h/c element of the second start. The competitors were well spread out with Jess Drew in the lighter Laser 4.7 having the advantage in the conditions and finishing both first across the line and on handicap.

Always hotly contested, the five Scows out this evening had some close racing, particularly around the marks. Andy Pavey was having a strong evening on the water but lost out to Paul Gould in race one. However, there was no stopping Andy today and having established an early, if not massive, lead in the second race at the windward mark, he held on through the reaching leg to claim inside position at the wing mark, again, holding his nerve on the downwind leg he seemed to really get his boat 'in the groove' and neither Paul nor Pete could catch him. A well-deserved first place for Andy in this final race of the Autumn Series.

The light was fading fast as we made our way back to the Club. Thanks as ever to our RIB crews Ian and Paula, John and Chris. Thanks too to ARO Ian and to our enthusiastic new members Debbie and Murray who did sterling work assisting on Sir P.

Last updated 13:00 on 13 September 2024