Vane 36 Saturday 11^th April 2015

An excellent day’s sailing! The wind was almost directly up and down the lake – vane skippers’ paradise - and there was enough to get hardier souls to change down from number two to three rigs. The start was delayed to allow the rain to move away – which it did. There were still some amazing gusts that made downwind legs very exciting at times.

Mervyn Cook sailed brilliantly to win both ways in the first board of the heat series but had to retire as he could not sustain the physical activity. This meant that there was a bye boat which helped with Graham Wyeth who did not have a mate.

The final scores were close. Peter Fothergill and mate Paul Edwards won with 15 points, followed by Graham with 13 points. Jacque Cook and Eric Meighen were third with 12 points, partly because the skipper did a blue and hit an opponent after tacking! In defence the opposition was headed and slowed down but the pink peril accelerated……… In fourth place were Andy Fernie and Mike Dann with eight points. Andy’s boat seemed to have a number of difficulties requiring fettling. Allan Oxlade, in his first competition since becoming severely hors de combat at the Vane A Nationals last year, with his mate David Mathers came fifth with two points. Mervyn was sixth having, as the rules state, lost the points he scored when he retired.

The honours for the windward legs were shared between skippers Graham and Peter and the down winds between Jacque and Peter demonstrating the closeness of the racing.

Jacque Cook Vane Class Captain