Class Association
As we all arrived at the boatpark on Tuesday morning we were finally greeted by the conditions that we had come to Garda for – gratuitous amounts of sunshine! The fleet was quickly released onto the water with the race committee keen to use the light northerly winds.
The race got underway on the first attempt. However, the entire fleet was eager to get a fast start to the day and unfortunately a few people were OCS. On the first beat once again it was those who tacked off the start line a headed into the middle of the lake that were first at the windward mark, with Russell and June Collister in first.
Down the first run my crew Pete Matthews and I, along with the new flying girls to the fleet Jo Freeman and Katie Tomsett had a great leg and the two extended a large lead on the fleet, with the girls just ahead.
This was a close fought battle, eventually with Saxton/Matthews gainging a comfortable lad at the end of the second lap. Freeman/Tomsett sailed well to hold of fearce competion from Tom Morris sailing with Emma Porteous, and the comeback kings Robert Gullan and Jack Holden. Unfortunately freeman and Tomsett were OCS leaving Morris/Porteous second and Gullan/Holden Third.
After the race the rain returned with strong gusts and the fleet was sent ashore. Only one race was sailed but it still felt like a long day. Overnight the standing were Saxton/Matthews first, Morris/Porteous second and Andrew and Jeraldine Peters third. The discard coming in tomorrow will change everything, it will be an important day with three races scheduled.
Ben Saxton
