With the calendar given over to allowing people to go to Carrick Roads 
for the week-end the lake races were given over to the Chocoholics where 
everybody is a winner as they get a chocolate bar after each race!

AM: Chocoholics 1

Sue Murray had very kindly given up her morning to do her first ever 
Officer of the Day and managed it with great panache. Members decided 
to make it a topping day as five Toppers took to the water.  Roger 
Heasman got a bit finger happy with the electronic timing system and set 
it to five second countdowns. This caused mass confusions as the horn 
blew five time at the start and a lot of racers initially thought it was race 
abandoned.  However in a force 3 to 4 wind everybody got away well 
except Nicky Buckett and Roger Heasman in the RS Vision, who had to 
return to shore to get the jib to unfurl properly! Mike Ford got a really 
good start in the Solo closely followed by Jane Andersons Topper. 
However Bob Sampson in his fully rigged Laser quickly established a 
good lead and disappeared over the horizon. The fleet then split into two 
groups which was further accentuated by some confusion at Zebra buoy 
with John and Vicki Duncalf both opting to take it to port instead of 
starboard and having to backtrack. Bumper Bob in the leading Laser also 
couldn't decide which so of Zebra to go and so to be safe decided to give 
it a good look from all sides. (Shame really, as but for this he would have 
won on handicap.)

Adeney also had a bit of a nightmare as he decided to go the wrong side 
of Pinkie Buoy and whilst Stephanie Heasman pointed out his mistake, 
Adeney was by this time wrestling with his Graduate and flying towards 
inlet! ( He decided to retire gracefully.)  Jane Chadney sailing one of the 
new club Toppers for her first time ever showed her sailing skills have 
really been honed by her recent training days bringing the Topper home 
second on handicap. Jane Anderson lead the handicap result in her 
Topper and so got to munch on her favourite Nestle chocolate nougat nut 
bar!

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Topper)
2nd Jane Chadney (Topper)
3rd Bob Sampson (Laser)
4th Mike Ford (Solo)
5th Derek Farnfield (Streaker)
6th John Duncalf (Topper)
7th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
8th Stephanie Heasman (Topper)
9th Nicky Buckett and Roger Heasman (RS Vision) 
Adeney Pooler (Graduate) rtd

PM: Chocoholics 2

Bob Sampson very kindly agreed to forego his afternoon race to be 
Officer of the Day. ( Apparently the drug of the Laser has finally worn 
off, as he only wants to sail the RS200 now.)  Derek Farnfield in the 
Streaker got a really good start followed closely by John and Vicki 
Duncalf in their Toppers.  Jane Anderson decided to have a leisurely start 
whilst Mike Ford got his timings all to 'the wind' and so started late.  An 
early incident with tacking to make West buoy saw Derek Farnfield and 
John Duncalf colliding and doing penalty turns. This gave Vicki Duncalf 
the opportunity to take the lead with Jane Chadney close on her heels.

Roger Heasman at the helm of the RS Vison with Nicky Buckett as crew 
was starting to have a tussle with Jane Anderson as the boats headed up to 
Far.  The first three boats to round Far were all Toppers which makes a 
nice change. As the boats headed for inlet the RS Vision started to 
menace the smaller Toppers and a close encounter with Vicki for the lead 
saw the Vision get to Dam Green buoy first.  The three Toppers then 
pointed up to West better than the Vision to re-take the first three 
positions. Derek in the Streaker, recovering from his penalty, started to 
fly through the fleet and Mike Ford and John Duncalf both managed to 
pass Stephanie Heasman in her Topper.  

Adeney's nightmare day continued as a broken rudder downhaul saw him 
capsize and struggle to get back upright and aboard. (Unfortunately, 
Adeney had to have assistance from the safety boat and so was 
disqualified.)  On the third lap Derek took the lead with Roger and Nicky 
in the Fusion desperately trying to catch him and with Jane Anderson 
sitting comfortably in third knowing that she would win on handicap. (So 
much for taking it easy Jane!)  Jane Chadney had another storming race 
to finish second yet again on handicap. Rumour has it that her Laser is 
being mothballed!

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Topper)
2nd Jane Chadney (Topper)
3rd Derek Farnfield (Streaker)
4th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5th John Duncalf (Topper)
6th Mike Ford (Solo)
7th Stephanie Heasman (Topper)
8th Roger Heasman and Nicky Buckett (RS Fusion)
Adeney Pooler (Graduate) dsq