Survival Mode in full operation!
Given the wind strength it was impressive to see 16 boats come to the line for racing at Rollesby on Sunday 16th March. Needless to say there were not 16 who reached the finish line.
A squall just the race started allowed Howard Astley-Jones in his Vareo to port start the fleet as everyone else struggled to reach the inner distance end of the line. Daniel Bull in his Laser was first round the very distant windward mark with Chris Foster in closest pursuit and Matt Boreham, Terry Palmer (Solos), Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer) and Astley-Jones completing an early but clear front group.
Further back the two Richards, Foster and Brown along with Keith Sykes were actually blown downwind from the start line. Foster took the decision to simply go for a blast whilst the others recovered to chase Stuart Highfield and Steve Leigh up the first beat.
There were capsizes a plenty, on the second lap Highfield and Leigh spent long enough upside down to retire, Clive Girling got back down the broad successfully bit decided on discretion along with Brown, Palmer and Bob Sparrow! With the fleet now down to nine, the rescue service were busy catching up……. Sykes retired too as the leaders were about to lap him.
By lap 3 Boreham, having stayed up right had worked his way past the Lasers and seemed to enjoy the last lap as he led all the way round. Astley-Jones was getting the hang of the run, in absolute turbo mode flying his kite! And worked his way through to second on the water. Bull looked set for third before a capsize at the last gybe, Foster looked like gaining but produced an exact carbon copy a few seconds later! This let the Wayfarer through to third.
Special mention should go to the other survivors, Phil Alison (Solo) sailed a lonely, but always upright, race alone in the gap between the front group and ‘the rest’ whilst Ellie Edwards battled her Splash round and John Saddington sporting the clubs B-plan sail on his Solo brought up the rear.
Only four boats ventured out for race two, Houghton and Boreham the only survivors to take the wins in their respective fleets.
Multisails
Race 1 (3 entries)
1. Howard Astley-Jones (Vareo)
2. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
Race 2 (2)
1. Dave Houghton & John Symonds (Wayfarer)
SingleHanders
Race 1 (12 entries)
1. Matt Boreham (Solo)
2. Daniel Bull (Laser)
3. Chris Foster (Laser)
4. Ellie Edwards (Splash)
5. Phil Alison (Solo)
6. John Saddington (Solo)
Race 2 (2)
1. Matt Boreham (Solo)