AM: Equinoctial Cup 4

With beautiful sunshine but very little wind and competition fishermen to 
be avoided, nine racers crossed the start line chasing the odd zephyrs of 
breeze.  Ever the light wind specialist, Jane Anderson in her fully rigged 
Laser took off with Steve Axford and Roger Heasman also in full rig 
Lasers giving chase.  Liz Royal, helming Bob Sampsons RS200 for the 
first time, also started well with John Savage in the Solo biting at her 
heels.  The next group of boats was headed by Derek Farnfield in his 
Wanderer followed by John Buckett’s Otter, Katie Leveridge’s Laser 
Radial, Toby Tobias’s Bosun and Stephen Muller’s Topper.

With the breeze switching all over the place, Jane gradually eased away 
from the rest of the fleet with only Steve able to stay in contention.  A 
battle for third developed between Liz and Roger with Liz managing to 
pass Roger on the second lap only to be re-passed.   John Buckett played 
the variable breeze to his best advantage keeping the faster boats within 
handicap distance with both John Savage and Derek Farnfield also going 
very well.

Owing to the lack of wind, the race was reduced from four laps to three. 
The end couldn’t come soon enough for poor Toby. Having got into irons 
near the end of the race he came ashore complaining that a Helixor had 
blown him off course!

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Laser)
2nd Steve Axford (Laser)
3rd John Buckett (Otter)
4th Roger Heasman (Laser)
5th John Savage (Solo)
6th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)
7th Liz Royal and Bob Sampson (RS200)
8th Katie Leveridge (Laser Radial)
9th Toby Tobias (Bosun)
10th Stephen Muller (Topper)

PM: Commodore’s Cup 2

With the wind direction all over the place at the start, fifteen boats 
crossed the line from all different angles trying to get to West buoy.
Initially, it looked as if those that had chosen to head away towards Inlet 
before tacking, would get the advantage. However, keeping close to the 
lake shore paid off for Jane Anderson and Steve Axford with Bob 
Sampson (now at the helm of his RS200) close by in third and Mary 
Carter doing really well in fourth.  Katie Leveridge got a better start and 
was able to give Simon Veal a hard time for the first couple of laps. 
Sailing Derek Farnfield’s Wanderer (with Derek doing OOD duties), Paul 
Wybrow gradually worked his way past both Katie and Simon.

John Buckett again showed his mastery of light airs, managing to give the 
Toppers the slip. John and Vicki Duncalf now seem to have Stephen 
Muller’s Topper to contend with on a weekly basis and Stephen is 
definitely pushing them hard.  Emily Veal is beginning to look at home in 
the Laser 4.7 and father Simon needs to watch his transom!

 Jane again finished first, with Steve second and John Buckett third on 
handicap. Toby found a new steely determination to outwit the helixors, 
finishing a creditable fourth on handicap, with Paul’s skills bringing the 
Wanderer home fifth.

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Laser)
2nd Steve Axford (Laser)
3rd John Buckett (Otter)
4th Toby Tobias (Bosun)
5th Paul Whybrow (Wanderer)
6th Bob Sampson and Liz Royal (RS200)
7th Roger Heasman (Laser)
8th Stephen Muller (Topper)
9th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
10th Katie Leveridge (Laser Radial)
11th Simon Veal (Laser)
12th John Duncalf (Topper)
13th Mary Carter (Laser Radial)
14th John Savage (Solo)
15th Emily Veal (Laser 4.7)