AM: Equinoctial Cup 7

Nine boats assembled for the start under a sky full of angry storm clouds. In the half hour before 
the race started the wind the wind veered from east to south. The fleet stood off from the start line 
because of the shifting wind that led to a particularly poor start for almost all of the boats. Derek 
Farnfield made the best of the changeable conditions by crossing the start line first, closely 
followed by Jane Anderson and Mary Carter in Laser Radials. Jane had managed to take the lead 
before the turn at Dam Green. The long run to Far Buoy via Inlet White stretched the fleet out over 
the whole length of the lake as the fickle wind dropped to a zephyr. Jane Anderson completed her 
first circuit in 35 minutes so the OOD decided to shorten course to 2 laps. Derek Farnfield was 
doing very well to maintain his position but passed the Home Buoy on the wrong side. By the time 
he realised his error and returned to put it right he had been overtaken Mike Ford in his Solo and 
Alan Comber, ably assisted by John Weller, in the Enterprise. The OOD's decision to shorten 
course proved a wise one as the wind continued to fail to trouble the assembled sailors to the 
detriment of John and Vicki Duncalf, and Megan Higgs in their Toppers. Jane Anderson managed 
to cross the line first, taking the honours on the lake.

Results:
1st  Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2nd Mike Ford (Solo)
3rd Alan Comber/John Weller (Enterprise)
4th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5th Derek Farnfield (Streaker)
6th John Savage (Solo)
7th John Duncalf (Topper)
Megan Higgs (Topper) rtd

Commodore's Cup 3

Building work has been going on at the lake for a number of weeks now and this has had a knock-
on effect on the conditions that the OOD carries out his duties in. This week the conditions had 
diminished to such an extent that the races were started by blowing a hunting horn with the 
timekeeper waving various flags to semaphore the fleet over the start line. Conditions hadn't 
improved much since the first race of the day and the boats drifted slowly towards Dam Green for 
the first time with Jane Anderson in her normal position, closely followed by David Higgs in his 
Laser. Mike Ford was spotted bailing out his boat by hand at the first buoy as he was going too 
slowly for his self-bailer to have any effect. The wind backed through almost 120 degrees to blow 
from the NE and picked up a little as the lap progressed. Mary Carter and Mike Ford fought 
closely for the first two laps with Mary just edging ahead as they moved into the final lap. John 
Duncalf gave the Dam Buoy the merest glance as he passed it and had to carry out a penalty 
pirouette in front of Vicky, his wife; she was not impressed. Jane Anderson crossed the finish line 
first followed by David Higgs, then Simon Veal leading a fleet dispersed along the length of the 
lake. John Savage and Mike Ford finished close together with John just managing to gain the edge.

1st Jane Anderson (Laser) 
2nd David Higgs (Laser)
3rd John Savage (Solo)
4th Mike Ford (Solo)
5th Simon Veal (Laser)
6th Adeney Pooler (Graduate)
7th Mary Carter (Laser Radial)
8th John Duncalf (Topper)
9th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
10th John Weller/Alan Comber	(Enterprise)