Race Report - Sunday December 5th

DM left home this morning with 8 inches of snow on the driveway - so very surprised to find precisely zero snow at Datchet. However, the crisp conditions and duvets kept many people away and four boats rigged to race.

Andy Murphy was in attendance but went home through lack of spinnaker sheets. Good news there is that Andy will team up with Andy Partington for the Winter Series and beyond. David Hume was also ready to go, but Dominic has apparently hurt his shoulder and may be off games for a couple of weeks. Steve Bell, and I think Jonathan Baggott, have their new boats in the workshop. Bob Millar is recuperating from his eye Op, and VC was away on family duties. According to Firth Snr., Firth Jnr was in bed.... no word of Tony - probably doing another triathlon. No sign of Andy and Nadia - who are becoming a rumour in their own lifetimes. Richard was held up for an hour by a carriageway closure on the M25, so three boats started race one. Richard took tea with Mike Firth, Admiral of the Fleet, and fixed BIFFA, agreed the new "Family Trophy" should be open to those living together, the future definition of "Silver" and the changing room refurbishment - as there was only time for one mug. Out on the racecourse, it was blowing 6-8mph SW and about a piping 4 degrees eventually. The fleet got away cleanly and John Hanson built an enormous lead with great speed and cunning - and frankly romped it from FC and his new Aussie crew - and then Mervyn sailing his new 3536. Mervyn said boat speed was fine, but he just needed to point the right way more often.

In race two, charged by hot tea, Richard and Howard made it 4 boats on the line. The PRO elected for a mass start, so with plenty of Toppers to intimidate, we immediately took a general recall. It was a bit of a short line, but the Race Team were gradually getting hypothermia, so were forgiven. Start two, got away cleanly. Committee boat end was generally a bit popular, but Richard and Howard took the pin end (because the Tacktick said that was the end to go for - amazing) and carved their way up the left hand side of the first beat crossing the entire fleet on port just at the top mark, RS bowsprit jobs and all. That set the pattern for the race, with John and Helen fighting to close the gap and nearly succeeding on the last spinnaker reach home. How does that Girl do it? It was Richard and Howard who took the gun, John and Helen 10 seconds behind, then the FC, followed by Mervyn. That makes it five wins in seven starts for Richard and Howard - there were rumblings in the Fleet that since the boat's recent secret trip to Windermere, it should be renamed "Hand of God"....

At this point it was blue skies, and a warm 5 degrees. Coming ashore we were all as warm as toast. The breeze though was dying and we are in for a sharp frost. Today's catering report = "OK".