AM: Equinoctial Cup 3 

Eleven boats left the start line at noon heading for Pinky Buoy, at the top 
end of the lake. This gave all the competitors a brisk beat up to the mark 
followed by a leisurely reach to West White.  Steve Axford in his full rig 
Laser led the way after an ‘on the nose’ start worthy of an Olympian, 
with Bob Sampson and Nicky Buckett in the RS200close on his heels.
By the time the fleet had reached Inlet the Lasers had separated 
themselves out with the two smaller rig 4.7 Lasers trailing the fully 
rigged boats.

Derek Farnfield was sailing well toward the front of the fleet in his 
Wanderer with a reefed jib. Roger Heasman in his Laser 4.7 appeared to 
be adopting a new tactical sailing stance, positioning himself right at the 
rear of the boat and ready for ‘take off’! (Adeney’s observation - to get 
Roger back for Adeney’s  newspaper headline banner of last week!)
Further at the back of the fleet Mike Ford was having a gentle first race of 
the season, mixing it with the three Toppers.

Vicki and John Duncalf were having their weekly ‘on the water’ tussle 
with the added interface of Steven Muller in his Topper. It looked to all 
the world that Vicky would leave the two men trailing.  John however, 
had other ideas and having managed to pass Steven on the second lap and 
he then also overtook Vicki.  Steven then followed suit leaving Vicki to 
trail in last.  Jane Chadney in her Laser 4.7 has to be the pick of the bunch 
to nearly pip Steve Axford on handicap!

Results: 

1st Steve Axford (Laser)
2nd Jane Chadney (Laser 4.7)
3rd Bob Sampson and Nicky Buckett (RS200)
4th Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7)
5th Simon Veal (Laser)
6th John Duncalf (Topper)
7th Steven Muller (Topper)
8th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
9th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)
10th Mike Ford (Wanderer)
11th John Savage (Solo)

PM: Cup Race 1

Nine boats started the afternoon race with a race time advanced to 
2.15pm.  As with the morning race the first leg was up to Pinky Buoy. 
However, with Jane Chadney in charge as Officer of the Day, the course 
was revised to have a more intricate shape!  Simon Veal with Jane 
Anderson and Roger Heasman all elected to spend the last minute before 
the off coasting towards the start line with Steve Axford coming through 
on the horn to challenge Jane at the front.  Uncharacteristically Bob and 
Nicky in the RS200 got a slow start and Vicki Duncalf, having got a good 
start in the Topper, suddenly lost the wind.

The wind had definitely shifted since the morning race, with the result 
that the boats were able to make Pinky on a single beat.  Steve Axford 
was the first to round Pinky, closely followed by Bob’s RS which had 
managed to make up a lot of ground.  Simon in his fully rigged Laser 
seemed to spend his whole race trying to remove Jane Anderson’s bow 
from his transom without avail, whilst Mike Ford in his fully rigged 
Wanderer was managing to hold onto a creditable fifth place.  Derek 
Farnfield in his Wanderer was having a tussle with the two Toppers of the 
Duncalfs until he gradually managed to pull clear.  The wind slowly 
dropped off and this left Vicki and John stranded at the back of the fleet. 
(not Topper weather!)  Unfortunately for Steve, whilst he finished first on 
the water he did not manage to get enough air between himself and Jane 
Anderson who finished first on handicap. 

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
2nd Steve Axford (Laser)
3rd Bob Sampson and Nicky Buckett (RS200)
4th Simon Veal (Laser)
5th Mike Ford (Wanderer)
6th Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7)
7th John Duncalf (Topper)
8th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
9th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)