AM: Cup Race 6 Bob Sampson's cleverly devised new electronic starting system (which automatically counts down the starting horns) received its baptism for the first race. (Wonderful work Bob!) With the wind blowing across the lake from the north westerly direction, seventeen boats set off for the West mark in a maze of tacks back and forth across the lake. Jane Anderson, Mike Ford and Roger Ford all crossed the line on starboard hoping to catch out the rest of the fleet! However, the ruse came to naught with racers such as Liz Royal helming Bob Sampson's RS200 making ground with less tacks. Neil Wallace was trying to gain sailing advantage with his Wayfarer, having borrowed a set of Rob Eason's Wayfarer 101 sails from John Leveridge. Jane Anderson was not letting this change of sail phase her, and managed to keep in touch as Neil and Nicky started to stretch out the fleet. The welcome return of Steve Axford saw him holding onto Jane's coat tails with Roger Ford and Val Shillito also staying with them and with Liz and Bob moving through. Jane Chadney enjoying sailing her Laser fully rigged, was also determinedly keeping up with the front runners. As the race progressed the fleet split into four distinct groups with John Weller making good progress in his Laser but unable to quite catch Mike Fords Solo. John Buckett in the Otter was having his own private race with Adeney Pooler's Graduate and John Savage's Solo with John Savage doing well to pass Adeney. It was good to see a group of four Toppers on the water, with Stephanie Heasman trying hard to outdo John and Vicki Duncalf and with Tim Martyn racing a single hander for the first time. Tim was in competition with son Fraser sailing his Laser 4.7 and dad just managed to squeak home before Fraser on corrected time. On handicap times Neil's sail change ploy did actually work, as he and crew Nicky won the race. The question is, will John Leveridge now ever get his sails back? Results: 1st Neil Wallace and Nicky Buckett (Wayfarer) 2nd Roger Ford and Val Shillito (Wayfarer) 3rd Jane Anderson (Laser) 4th Steve Axford (Laser) 5th Liz Royal and Bob Sampson (RS200) 6th John Buckett (Otter) 7th Jane Chadney (Laser) 8th Mike Ford (Solo) 9th Vicki Duncalf (Topper) 10th John Duncalf (Topper) 11th Stephanie Heasman (Topper) 12th Adeney Pooler (Graduate) 13th John Savage (Solo) 14th Roger Heasman (Laser) 15th John Weller (Laser) 16th Tim Martyn (Topper) 17th Fraser Martyn (Laser 4.7) Lunchtime race: Peter Pocock Novice Series It was good to see Joe Hedges back racing, having had a pretty torrid time with illness since damaging his leg last season. Six youngsters battled out the race and it looked as if Megan Higgs would romp away after a really good start. For some reason Megan then managed to get into irons, which let Daan Rademaker through. There was then a lot of tacking as the Picos all tried to get to the West Mark with Daan dropping back and Megan moving through to the front. Poor Annabelle sailing the Optomist had to suffer the addition of her father's weight which outweighed the benefits of his coaching support and never really gave her a chance to be in contention. As the race developed, Willemyne Rademaker and birthday girl Lisselot Rademaker chased Megan to the finish whilst Daan decided to go for a ducking and Joe's lack of time on the water came back to haunt him. Well raced everybody. Results: 1st Megan Higgs (Pico) 2nd Willemyne Rademaker (Pico) 3rd Lisselot Rademaker (Pico) 4th Joe Hedges (Pico) 5th Daan Rademaker (Pico) 6th Annabelle Rademaker (Optomist) PM: Barnwell Cup 3 At the start Bob Sampson (now at the Helm of the RS 200) luffed Steve Axford's Laser, who in turn luffed Neil and Nicky in the Wayfarer. This move caused a coming together between Steve and Neil's boats and at the same time pushed John Savage to the wrong side of the start buoy! The net result was a series of 720 degree penalty turns for the three boats, whilst Bob chuckled off into the distance. 'Bumper Bob' as he has now become known, then proceeded to call starboard on David Higgs. David, whilst taking evasive action, simultaneously trying to gybe and start a 720 degree penalty turn, managed only to capsize! As things started to settle down Roger Ford and Val Shillito took the lead with Bob and Liz chasing them down and overtaking them on the windward race leg. The race then developed into a battle between the Wayfarers of Roger Ford and Neil Wallace and the Lasers of Jane Anderson and Steve Axford, who had done well to work his way back up through the fleet. At one stage, it looked as if the wind was really going to strengthen and John Duncalf was heard to remark 'this is more like it' Unfortunately, this was the kiss of death and the resulting lesser wind strength drew John and Vicki's Toppers into a battle with David Higgs Laser. John Weller was having another good race until he had a series of mishaps at Inlet. First he hit the buoy and had to take a penalty and then managed to go for a swim as he capsized in gibing round the buoy. Bob and Liz really fizzing in the RS200 did well to win their first race as helm and crew together. Results: 1st Bob Sampson and Liz Royal (RS200) 2nd Jane Anderson (Laser) 3rd Roger Ford and Val Shillito (Wayfarer) 4th Neil Wallace and Nicky Buckett (Wayfarer) 5th Steve Axford (Laser) 6th Jane Chadney (Laser) 7th John Buckett (Otter) 8th John Duncalf (Topper) 9th Roger Heasman (Laser) 10th Vicki Duncalf (Topper) 11th Adeney Pooler (Graduate) 12th John Savage (Solo) 13th John Weller (Laser) 14th David Higgs (Laser)