Though James Jarvey was first to tack off the start line onto a nice port lift, it was local Richard Parkins who seemed to want to act as lead-boat; just being nice to visitors and show them the way around ...... but not nice enough to let any of them take the lead.
The front 4 boats of Parkins, Will Gulliver, Jarvey, and Ben Falat proceeded to pull ahead, until an overzealous tack by Falat sent him swimming ...... said something about overheating in the sunshine, and needing to cool off ...... which let Matthew House into the running, but that was going to be House’s only show all week-end.
After lunch, the second start was recalled and Black-flagged, with everyone clear this second attempt. Ben Falat drove off the port end, picked a shift and was never really seriously hindered from that point onwards ....... his first-ever ‘Result’ in the Phantom Fleet!
Gulliver and Parkins consolidated their portfolios with another 2nd and a 3rd respectively; scraps to the rest of the fleet. The wind had continued a streaky pattern with adjacent opposite shifts within 50-metres of each other; difficult times both to windward and offwind.
Last race back-to-back again saw a pressure-start and Falat again led at the first mark. This time however the pack of wolves charged on the downwind and Parkins took the lead with another (different !) Jarvey in the fray. Gulliver, reeling at the lack of hospitality offered by Parkins took the lead off him through the windiest patch of the day; he showed great speed in all aspects and steadily pulled further ahead and out of sight, settling the overall winner’s slot; some said he had taken out shares in the electronics firm Maplin ...... there must have been an underwater electronic impellor down there!
However the best spectator-sport was still to come; Parkins was heading for another 2nd and thereby second overall, but ...... up the last beat Falat had a go at him with the pair doing some 20+ tacks within the 200 metres towards the finish; “Incognito”-Jarvey managed to sail past both and latterly while Parkins was sooooo intently covering Falat who ducked Jarvey on port-tack, this left Jarvey on starboard tack to catch Parkins. Parkins settled for 720-turns, with only some 30 metres to go; therefore Falat from behind took 3rd and with it second slot overall, on countback from Parkins.
Mishap-of-the-day:
(1) Falat’s capsize in the first race
(2) Having received his trophy mug, he took it into the changing rooms and dropped it ..... does epoxy do ceramic ?
Huge thanks to Hunts for good racing, good food, good weather and good play; very well-done to Will Gulliver for a very deserved win
