Cup 9
Our first race day of meteorological autumn was immediately recognisable as ideal for water loving species such as ducks and sailors, wide brimmed hats an asset. Watery, grey, above and below with a gusty, indecisive wind, originally blowing heavy rain from the SW. Four boats took to the lake for Cup series 9.
Sadly, Dave Perrett’s Solo approached the first buoy from the wrong direction, meeting Liam Routley’s Laser and Brian Pollard’s Bosun, with Tash Routley as crew, coming the other way. Dave happily unravelled his course, but sadly not sufficiently to fully correct his mistake, thus causing his subsequent retirement.
Meanwhile Nathan Pollard, with 7sqm Aero rig, had already taken a strong lead, unthreatened throughout the race. Behind him Dave continued to enjoy his sail, unaware of his early error. Third and fourth place remained more in question, Brian not giving up on catching Liam, who held the Bosun off to the finish. The span of handicaps juggled final results:
- Nathan Pollard
- Brian Pollard & Tash Routley
- Liam Routley
Retired Dave Perrett
Commodore 7
Fleet numbers were boosted for Commodore 7 by the launch of John Dabb’s Bosun, Rachel Cope crewing. By now the rain had become less aggressive and the wind had surprisingly rotated a full compass point, causing a complete reversal of race direction. After a pre race capsize, Nathan was again first and fast away, to lead throughout. The fickle wind gave little opportunity for overtaking by strategic tacks, but although Dave had established second place during lap 2, jousting for position between Laser and Bosuns continued to the end of the race. Places after corrected times:
- Nathan Pollard
- Jointly Dave Perrett / Brian Pollard & Tash Routley
- John Dabbs & Rachel Cope
- Liam Routley
Thanks for officiating to Linda Spiller and to Jenny Routley, photographer.