ANOTHER blustery Sunday, but not as bad as the last two Sundays in that we did actually set off on a race!

At the one-minute gun, Liam Routley capsized his Laser Full Rig when a nasty gust caught him off guard near the Pontoon whilst he was adjusting his kicking strap!

Jane Anderson was first off at the start line in her Topper; Nathan Pollard in his Aero swiftly moved into second position by the first mark (Home 2), then passed Jane on the beat to West mark, swiftly rounding it to go back across the lake to Middle mark.

He kept the lead throughout the rest of the race until the end.

After rounding the top mark (Pinky), Dave Perrett in his small sail Solo picked up a good gust to take second position, with Jane keeping close to his stern in third as they headed down the lake again to Inlet mark. Vicki Duncalf (Topper) was doing well and ably managing the gusts, as were Brian Pollard with Tash Routley who were also keeping well up with the leaders.

As the race progressed, Liam had yet another capsize in a hefty gust just before rounding Inlet mark and decided the morning session was not for him, so he retired. The placings remained the same for the rest of the race.

Results (after the usual Ports Yardstick adjustments for Handicap Racing): 1 Jane Anderson (Topper); 2 Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 3 Nathan Pollard (Aero 6), 4 Dave Perrett (Solo), 5 Brian Pollard and Tash Routely (Bosun), Liam Routley (Laser Full) retired on lap two.

AT THE afternoon start gun it was difficult to see who was off the line first, but Jane managed to round the next mark (Home 2) in first and yet again, Nathan Pollard in his Aero rounded West ahead of her for the downwind leg to Middle mark.

Liam Routley took a different line from H2 to West mark to take fourth from Brian Pollard’s Bosun before rounding the downwind buoy, Middle.

A nice broad reach down to Dam mark at the other end of the lake pushed Liam up to second where he stayed for the rest of the race and chased Nathan.

At the end of lap one, Brian Pollard and Tash Routley and Vicki Duncalf in her Topper were neck and neck, however the Bosun was a bit too downwind of the course to make the buoy and tacked into Vicki’s space (three boat lengths required) and had to retire because of the infringement!

Meanwhile, Dave Perrett had passed Liam to take second place at the start of lap four.

Running downwind from Zebra Mark to Dam mark, Liam ably managed to pass Dave to return himself to second on the finish line.

Vicki sadly capsized in a bad gust whilst rounding Dam mark and capsized, but quickly righted her Topper to cross the finish line in good time!

Results: 1 Jane Anderson (Topper); 2 Nathan Pollard (Aero 6); 3 Vicki Duncalf (Topper), 4 Dave Perrett (Solo); 5 Liam Routley (Laser Full). Retired: Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun).

Grateful thanks were expressed to race officer of the day, Jenny Routley, and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.