AM: Barnwell Cup 4

Ten boats crossed the start line, with Vicki Duncalf ahead of Steve 
Axford, Simon Veal, John Duncalf, Jane Anderson and Roger Heasman.
Unfortunately Bob Sampson got squeezed by Jane Anderson and in a 
choice between hitting Jane or the Buoy he wisely decided for the Buoy 
and had to do a 360 degree penalty turn.  Steve Axford soon took an early 
and commanding lead, whilst Simon Veal capsized at West in his 
attempts to wrestle his boom off John Duncalf’s back. John meanwhile 
decided to sit quietly in his Topper until Simon had finished his bathing 
antics.  After his early setback, Bob Sampson was soon steaming through 
the fleet in his attempts to catch Steve. John Duncalf meanwhile, also 
quickly recovered to start doing battle royal with the other two Toppers of 
Vicki Duncalf and Jane Anderson.

On the second lap Steve just kept on increasing his lead in the fully 
rigged Laser with Bob also on the same rig now lying second. Roger 
Heasman had by this time settled into third place with Katie Leveridge 
doing her utmost to pass him.  Disaster struck for Simon Veal at Pinkie 
Buoy when his mast unceremoniously snapped thereby forcing him to 
retire. The Veal family were not having a lot of luck as Emily in the 
Topper found the conditions just too strong for her light weight broke her 
boom so was soon having an early shower! Roger Heasman also lost the 
plot and capsized, in the process leaving Katie Leveridge to move up to 
third place.

On the third lap stations for all boats were held, with John Duncalf 
cementing his position at the head of the Topper trio.  On the fourth and 
final lap Mike Ford and John Leveridge were on the move managing to 
pass Vicki Duncalf. Steve Axford by this time was just crossing the 
finishing line to take line and handicap honours. 

Results: 

1st Steve Axford (Laser)
2nd John Duncalf (Topper)
3rd Jane Anderson (Topper)
4th Bob Sampson (Laser)
5th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6th Katie Leveridge (Laser 4.7)
7th Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7)
8th Mike Ford and John Leveridge (Wanderer)
Simon Veal (Laser), Emily Veal (Topper) rtd

PM: Pursuit Race 4.

The wind eased a little for the afternoon pursuit race, although it was still 
gusting, especially up at the Far buoy.   This caught out Vicki Duncalf 
who took a short dip before re-joining the race again and in the process 
allowing Roger Heasman and husband John to pass her.  The boats were 
all loving the top half of the lake as on the reach back down to Home 
Two buoy they were almost being lifted out of the water with the speed of 
the  planing.

On the second lap Jane Anderson and Katie Leveridge were closing on 
the boats in front of them with Katie managing to pass John Savage in the 
re-masted Solo. During the race John experienced a new racing 
phenomenon as with the speed of the Solo on the plane he was getting an 
early shower with water coming up through the centre board casing!
Having started last and second to last in the catch up race Steve Axford 
and Bob Sampson in the fully rigged Laser were both creaming along and 
doing their utmost to pass all the boats, which had started at least 5 
minutes before them.

On the third lap Mike Ford made an uncharacteristic error in passing the 
Home One buoy on the wrong side and subsequently decided to retire.
The rain which had been threatening started to get quite heavy and cold  
which lead to the retirement of John Buckett and Stephanie Heasman in 
the Otter. This was a pity as the fixed duration race period of sixty five 
minutes ended three minutes later!

In the last moments of the race an ongoing tussle between Jane Anderson 
and John Duncalf in the Toppers came to a climax, with Jane passing 
John. Determined not to be beaten and just as the final horn sounded, 
John  managed to pull parallel with Jane to finish joint second.

Results: 

1st Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7)
2nd= Jane Anderson (Topper)
2nd= John Duncalf (Topper)
4th Katie Leveridge (Laser 4.7)
5th Bob Sampson (Laser)
6th Steve Axford (Laser)
7th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
8th John Savage (Solo)
9th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)
Mike Ford and John Leveridge (Wanderer), John Buckett and Stephanie 
Heasman (Otter) rtd