Flat calm, with deceptive zephyrs under the cloud, heralded the opening Thursday race last week. The forecast was clear – the NW gradient would be restored in the evening, and usually it happens around the start time for racing, so AP up and wait…
The Squib fleet got away towards the beach with a breath from the NE, followed by the keelboats, but as the latter arrived at O, the wind began to fill, causing some abrupt changes of course and not a little shouting! The fleet came downwind led by Alan castle’s ‘Melody’, and began to sort itself out in the two ‘sausage’ rounds completed before the end of the race, with Ricky Bruton’s ‘Effusion’ showing everyone else the way.
The breeze began to fade with the sunset, and everyone was glad to have got a race in before the evening chill came in.
Steve Fraser
Cruiser Class Captain
