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A smaller than expected fleet of nine boats assembled at a windless Broxbourne Sailing Club on 1st October for the home fleets inaugural Open meeting on the Eastern circuit.

After a very pleasant interlude allowed the visitors to admire the enhanced facilities at the newly refurbished club - which fortuitously included a large flat screen TV and settees to watch the Rugby in comfort - the first race was delayed till approximately 12:30.  The briefing was held (after the England game had bneen digested and cakes eaten etc) and the course explained with many wondering if they had made the right choice in rigging their boats.

Of more concern was the observation of numerous large Crayfish hiding in close proximity to the slipway.  Chris Roberts reassured competitors by wading in to attempt a capture but only proved that Crayfish have better reactions than Phantom sailors.

The delay proved prudent as the first ripples appeared on an otherwise mirror flat lake and a fickle breeze settled sufficiently to allow the Race Officer to go ahead with the planned racing.

Without further ado the fleet launched and sailed out to the line for a committee boat start at the far end of the lake and a beat back to the club.  Surprisingly the breeze held fairly well during the pre-start and the fleet got away.  New boy and visitor from Frensham Pond Tim Hemsley made his mark early on with a call for turns from Roberts for an infringement and proceeded to pull away from the fleet with Ben Falat.  These two swapped places for the rest of the race with a detached shroud clevis pin causing a moments panic for Hemsley who addressed the danger with a quick tack on to the secure shroud and a scrabbled refixing exercise.  Falat would have been forgiven for thinking that was that but Tim clawed back the lead to take the gun.  Roberts sailed through the fleet to take third but couldn't quite get to the leaders at the last mark.

After lunch the wind also took a rest and it looked as though the racing would be cancelled.  As a fickle breeze returned the concensus was that if one race could be run then that would be sufficient for the exhausted sailors.  Why is it in hot windless conditions such pain can be inflicted upon a prone motionless helm?

The final race got away from a biased line and again Tim showed his light airs skills and sailed away from the fleet again pursued by Falat.  Roberts pulled through from a(nother) poor start to take third, whilst Jeremy Hudson took fourth.  Hudson had been well placed in both races and was unlucky to not better a better placing.

The first local boat was helmed by Simon Hayes who took fifth place - which brings with it the dubious honour of writing the event report - which he must have overlooked in the subsequent de-briefing!

The fleet now assembles at Hickling Broad for the finale of the Eastern Circuit on 15th/16th October.

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