For the first time that I know and ever recollect an even amount of 97 rules and 05 (2019) rules rigged up to what looked like a beautiful 8-10 knots breeze on a very almost criminally early morning after traveling, sun was shinning and spirits high. Was exciting to see some new faces and nice to see some old faces/hulls back on the water.
Sailing down to the race area realising that the wind was a little lighter than originally thought but still enough to race, Bouy was It close every one hit the line almost at the same time maybe not a warp speed but still close racing all the way up to the windward mark, the 97rules pushing the other 3 round, Usagi taking the lead early with a non foiling A&E snapping at the heals and Poppy close behind with the new skipper of Jamie, with kites up and Usagi stretching her legs little, and Poppy making light work of getting past A&E. Another lap with Poppy chasing Usagi and Robin at the dangerous end of Flying Kipper with Oliver hunting down and managing to pass A&E down wind and making the pass stick. Martin in King Tubby observes this and follows suit leaving A&E in there wake.
Race two starts the same another clear start and a great start from the 97 rules boats and a great fight all the way to the top mark. wind had picked up ever so slightly Poppy and Usagi where almost twin wiring upwind but A&E unable and being push hard by Flying Kipper and King Tubby. round the windward mark Usagi with a comfortable lead A&E managing to get some flight time even if it was a such crazy angles letting poppy and Flying Kipper put them under pressure, until poppy managed to find a massive hole to sail in to and let Flying Kipper and king tubby past and A&E a little berating room.
while waiting for race 3 the wind was slowly deciding that it had had enough and dropping more and more. Flying Kipper dropping back a little after the line tack off, as every one else smashed the left hand side towards the middle of the lake. Little did we know how much robin had been paying attention between races to the small breaths of wind where filling in from the right, as some of the rest of us make tunes off the rigging. As we all sailed on in to the doldrums and to our ignerance watching Flying Kipper in what felt like 10x more wind than the rest of us and too our dismay a lift too. clearly must have been cheating, they went on to do as what can only described as a horizon job. Usagi followed closely by King Tubby. Poppy and A&E where sat struggling to get round the 1st mark as the Flying Kipper looking to lap, must have had the cheesiest of grins much like the Cheshire Cat. Poppy made it round leaving A&E to what felt was sailing backwards. Fortunately was only a short race, well it was for Robin and Oliver aboard Flying Kipper. Less so for poppy and A&E, on the last leg (when finally getting there) was close depending on who got the gusts fist, until a safety boat came and informed A&E that they had missed out the spreader mark and told that the race comity "had all grown beards while watching us race" offers us a last place and a tow back. which was interesting getting towed on the foils, much harder than originally thought.
That evening was spent measuring sails in the wet bar of the club and then the famous walk to the Wheatsheaf. unfortunately the regular of Ribs and steak was off the menu! but we all managed with out.
Day two promised more wind and more great racing. The blast to the race area was off the grassy rigging area kite up and we where all off. Grins all round showing the other fleets why the Cherubs are such amazing boats. off the start all 6 boats close all on the wire and charging after the 4k's. Usagi starting off just like day one with an early lead and Poppy just below showing some great up wind speed. A&E trying to keep up and keep off the closely fought battle fo the 3 97 rules boats, was epic to see Comfortably Numb back on the water showing her speed. as the wind starting to fill in slightly A&E getting more and more flight time as the race went on. it all came down to the last downwind leg and the last gybe. A foiling A&E manage to pull off a foiling gybe then flying to the line until getting a powerboat parked in-front of them and the wash from the engine finished in a big splash and a capsize leaving it open to Usagi.
Last race of the weekend looked promising now cooking on about 12-15knts. A watch less A&E decided to go for a port flier but with only 5 other boats to battle pull it off to a row off cheers as she foils past the fleet on port. With the optimum wind for foiling she was gone passing some of the b14's by the windward mark even with them having a 3 min head start. Usagi lead the others. With a capsize from poppy on the kite drop leaving the gate open for flying kipper and king tubby.
please correct and fill in anything I have got incorrect or missed out!
Final results are;
1st Cherub 3202 Queen Mary Peters, Andrew Peters, Andrew 890 1 1 (2) 1 2 7 5
2nd Cherub 2659 Covenham SC Jones, Robin Goolden, Oliver 890 3 2 1 (4) 3 13 9
3rd Cherub 3215 Dee SC O'Connor, Jonny Wright, Andrew 890 (5) 3 5 2 1 16 11
4th Cherub 2650 Staunton Harold SC Denchfield, Martin Clarke, Martyn 890 4 4 3 (5) 4 20 15
5th Cherub 3216 Draycote/Poole Pearson, Jamie Ruddiman, James 890 2 (7 DNC) 4 3 7 RET 23 16
6th Cherub 2648 WYC Leeuwen, Shane Schacteiz, Spencer 890 (7 RET) 7 RET 7 DNC 6 7 RET 34 27