Following some excellent pre meeting training on the Saturday and some further liquid training on Saturday evening, the open meeting day dawned with little or no wind.  Lucklily this increased to a reasonable 5-8 mph although this became increasingly shifty as the day progressed.

Race 1 started with Will Gulliver leading Simon Hawkes and Mike Tustin up to the windward mark within what seemed to be the only wind on the lake, leaving the portsiders sitting on a mirror.  After a few minutes the wind illed in and the stragglers caught up and there followed a battle for places right up to the end of the race.  Unfortunately, WG lost his way and he and SH sailed the wrong course, as a result, Al Keck from Bowmoor took the 1st position folllowed by Gaving Young from Cotswold and Mike Tustin (also from Bowmoor).

Race 2 followed a very similar pattern with positions being won and lost according to the vagaries of a now slightly increased but more patchy wind.  The leading two boats WG and SH very quickly gained a large lead over the rest of the pack with a second battle going on behind for the next three positions with GY, AK and MT swapping positions throughout the race.  Finally, after quite a struggle SH managed to get to the finish first with WG following closely at his heels.

Race 3 started the most fluky wind yet and in this race nearly every competitor had a spell at the front with people seeming to have their own personal wind installed.  Probably one of the most frustrating races of the day however SH kept his cool to come in first followed closely by AK and GY.

Overall Simon Hawkes the won the day with Al Keck second and Gavin Young third.  Full results attached.

For photos of the day, please go to:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=110466&id=722231718&l=c3c4d831fc

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=110469&id=722231718&l=f6b997cddb