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A rather ominous forecast of a Force Four to Five around midday and a whole bunch of grey clouds and drizzle - such a contrast from last year’s Bough Beech event, no doubt contributed to the lower than expected turnout. The wind started to build as we left the shore for race one and the first of many huge gusts came through and several people who had taken out large sails opted for the safety of the bank. Rob Kent, who claimed he had sailed every weekend since the LWA Melting Pot on 13 Feb this year, soon showed his customary fantastic form and took Race One ahead of Andy Lacy and Chris Gibson.
Race Two followed on fairly swiftly and the gusts kept coming, some of them well over the 20 knot mark, with even more of the corresponding holes, which made staying upright a real struggle for many sailors in the fleet. By a curious coincidence exactly the same sailors filled the first seven places as in the first race. Newcomer Simon Stanbridge sailing an 8m sail on on an old Equipe, was enjoying his first day’s proper racing and making a good job of it all.Conor Wells, on his RS:X was hit by a massive gust and in the resulting crash received a blow on his shoulder and decide to retire. Young Matthew Barton managed to damage his Techno and also decided that is was prudent to retire from further racing, as did the oldest man on the water, Colin Flint.
During lunch one of the three sails Chris Gibson had rigged (!) blew over and skegged itself, so in the afternoon he took out his Demon. This was a lucky choice as the wind decided to drop somewhat and there were less gusts. Early in Race Three there was a sound like a rifle shot as the boom clamp on Rob Kent’s board exploded, enabling Chris to take first place with Rob having to settle for eleventh, having only completed one lap before disaster struck. Any Lacy also had problems and finished 12th, all of which cleared the opposition away for Jon Davis to take 2nd place ahead of Alan Jackson, having his only decent race of the day.
The last race saw order restored, with Rob back in the top slot, Chris second and Andy Lacy third.
There were some remarkably consistent placings near the top of the board, Jon Davis slotted 3 fives and a second, Nick Kidd managed 4 fourths and Annette Kent, sailing consistently well on a 8.5 all day, scored 3 x sixes and a fifth. Nick Fountain achieved 4 seventh places.
This was the first event at which the new Weight Classes were trialled for the Men’s 9.5 Raceboard Fleet. There were just 3 sailors over the 80 kgs mark and Jon Davis pipped Nick Kidd for the award on countback. The new “60 plus” Veteran section award went to Rod Davis, although Andy Lacy, who was third overall, was in fact the first Vet in the rankings.
RESULTS: Overall positions in brackets:
9.5:
Light: Under 80 kilos:
1: Rob Kent (1); 2: Chris Gibson (2); 3: Andy Lacy (3)
Heavy: Over 80 Kilos:
1: Jon Davis (4)
1st Lady: Annette Kent (6)
Grand Master (50+): Nick Kidd (5)
Veteran (60+): Rod Davis (8)
1st Bough Beech Sailor: Nick Fountain (7)
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