AM: Chocoholics/Ship Creek Paddle Trophy

Sunshine brought out the racers, with nineteen boats on the line, facing  
light and fickle winds. Race officer Alan Comber, took care to warn the 
model boat racers that their race water would be crowded with the real 
McCoys!   A southerly wind  and only one route to Dam Green buoy 
seemed a recipe for disaster.  Miraculously all boats got away cleanly, 
Jane Anderson heading the fleet, followed by Neil Wallace, then Jane 
Chadney and Steve Axford.  Jane Chadney thoroughly enjoyed the fickle 
wind changes, whilst Steve Axford hated them. Jane showed Steve a 
clean pair of heels and also passed Neil and Nicky to finish second on the 
water to Jane Anderson.

With sudden wind changes the beat from Pinky to West tested everyone, 
as the sailors took different tacks, looking for an advantage. The boats 
gradually split into two clear groups, with the Laser sailor and Neil 
Wallace's Wayfarer heading the fleet.  Junior racers Tom Moulton and 
Emily Veal in the Pico decided life was too boring, with Emily jumping 
ship and swimming back to shore. Megan Higgs also decided to save her 
energy for the lunchtime race.

The closing lap saw a close contest developed between John Buckett, 
Vicky Duncalf, John Leveridge  and John Chandler. The boats all 
converged at Dam in a close knit group, squabbling for water rights round 
the buoy. The bickering then continued up and around Zebra and onto 
Inlet.  John Buckett finally emerged ahead crossing the line as group 
leader. Vicki Duncalf having lost out, still managed to hold off husband 
John and Stephanie Heasman, as the Toppers finished line astern.

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Laser)
2nd Neil Wallace and Nicky Buckett (Wayfarer)
3rd Jane Chadney (Laser)
4th Steve Axford (Laser)
5th Roger Heasman (Laser)
6th David Higgs (Laser)
7th Katie Leveridge (Laser)
8th John Buckett (Otter)
9th Simon Veal (Laser)
10th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
11th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)
12th John Duncalf (Topper)
13th David Harris (Otter)
14th Stephanie Heasman (Topper)
15th John Chandler (Bosun)
16th John Savage (Solo)
17th John Leveridge and Mike Ford (Wayfarer)
Tom Moulton and Emily Veal (Pico), Megan Higgs (Pico) rtd

Lunchtime: Peter Pocock Junior Achievement Trophy

Seven young racers eagerly took to the water, with Daan and Lisselot 
Rademaker nobly sharing a Pico due to a boat shortage.  Megan Higgs 
morning senior race decision seemed to pay off as she sped away from 
the rest of the racers.  Emily Veal knowing that she needed to win to 
become unassailable series winner chased down Megan, with Willemijna 
Rademaker closely shadowing Emily.

Tom Moulton and Fraser Martyn both got off to slower starts and Daan 
with Lisselot after starting well lost wind at Dam and never recovered. 
Annabelle Rademaker's slower Optimist stuttered again with difficulties 
getting the boat to point. Quick thinking Nicky Buckett boarded ship to 
help school her and the tiny Optimist then ploughed on, bow down the 
water!

Megan's race fell apart when she hit Emily resulting in a 720 penalty.
Emily then lead but Willemijna stole her wind on the last leg, to cross the 
line for her first win. With Fraser finishing fourth the series goes to the 
wire and Emily now has to win the last race, to grab the cup.

Results: 

1st Willemijna Rademaker (Pico)
2nd Emily Veal (Pico)
3rd Megan Higgs (Pico)
4th Fraser Martyn (Pico)
5th Tom Moulton (Pico)
6th Daan and Lisselot Rademaker (Pico)
7th Annabelle Rademaker (Optimist) 
      
PM: Sailboat Trophy 7

After long morning and lunchtime races, the afternoon race was 
shortened to two laps, taking account of the light wind. Murphy's Law 
prevailed, as the wind increased and gave the slower boats handicap 
advantage.  Jane Anderson first to get her Laser into clear air lead at the 
start only to be passed by Neil's Wayfarer. Paul Whybrow's Scorpion 
slow started and never managed to make its presence felt.

John Buckett, Simon Veal, David Higgs and Roger Heasman all had an 
early tussle, with Roger having to do a 360 penalty and David having to 
do a 720 after boats touched.  Derek Farnfield raced really well in the 
Wanderer, sailed without a jib and managed to finish 6th on handicap, 
with John Chandler also sailing well in the Bosun.  After an extremely 
slow start John Leveridge, coached by Mike Ford in Wayfarer 101, 
caught the fleet up and after harassing David Harris in the Otter, finished 
eleventh out of fifteen on the water.

Results: 

1st Neil Wallace and Nicky Buckett (Wayfarer)
2nd Jane Anderson (Laser)
3rd John Buckett (Otter)
4th Paul Whybrow and Steve Axford (Scorpion)
5th Jane Chadney (Laser)
6th Derek Farnfield (Wanderer)
7th John Chandler (Bosun)
8th Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
9th Roger Heasman (Laser)
10th Simon Veal (Laser)
11th David Higgs (Laser)
12th John Savage (Solo)
13th John Leveridge and Mike Ford (Wayfarer)
14th David Harris (Otter)
15th Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)