Results / Mini Series _ Event 3 Litteton SC - 13/02/2005

The cold blustery northerly wind on the third Littleton event made up for the lack of wind over the last two weekends. However, clearly a number of 200 sailors were put off but a hard core 9 boats entered. The wind direction was again unfortunately blowing across the lake making the windward leeward races very, short, shifty, gusty (an understatement) and at times entertaining! Sue Antonnelli was acting as race officer and I did not envy her sitting out on the water in the cold wind. It was me sailing with Jim Dean who got to the windward mark first in race 1 having got a sneaky left shift. Marshall King crewed by fill in crew Jo Hewitson were in second followed by Geoff and Helen. However, unfortunately for me, after a couple of laps Marshall got what I see as a lucky gust from behind forcing me to gybe early for the mark or be rolled, and by the narrowest of margins he got clear ahead at two boat lengths to steal the lead. It was then Geoff who also caught a few fast gusts and also got the better of us snatching second. So famous last words Jim declared lets protect third on the last lap! However, so riled by being over taken by my other half we then over stood the finish line with the kite up only to put us in the water - (very careless!!!) and were then deprived of third by Melissa Storey. The wind never abated and the second race got off with much entertainment. With committee boat bias a raft of boats vied for the committee boat end but most of them looked to be locked out. Geoff managed to squeeze through the gap and redip down the line to get a very good start which set him up as first at the windward mark. However, unfortunately behind it was Patch who capsized on the start line at the committee boat and it was another boat that sailed through the main. The rip sounded expensive! Marshall and Jo were close on Geoff's heels and I followed by Commodore Dobner and Sue followed in fourth and fifth respectively. Geoff and Marshall had a close battle around the course, with the lead interchanging. However, it was Geoff who came out on top to win the race. After a warm lunch it was only the hard core who returned to the course. Sue had moved the course to try and get into the more consistent breeze which had increased. However, I would hardly have called it consistent. Marshall got away to take the lead convincingly from start to finish to win the event. Geoff held second place, but only for a short while, as he capsized on the first run, allowing me to slip through into second. It is worth saying at this point that I had persuaded Geoff's ex crew Jim Dean to crew for me on condition that there was no snow. However, I did assure him on the penultimate lap that the white wet stuff falling out of the sky really was not snow! So it was Marshall who won the event who received gift vouchers from Purple and goodies from Holt. As far as the series goes there has been a different winner for each of the series events so far. Unfortunately neither, Tom and Jo, Geoff nor Marshall can make the final event. With the last of the series taking place on the 27th, and being non-discardable as it is an open meeting this leaves the series wide open with lots more prizes provided by Harken and Yachts and Yachting. However, as it stands Geoff is winning over all and perhaps we will find a prize for him anyway! The last event is also an open meeting so again all RS200 are welcome to come join the last of the series.