Race Officer Caz Hoole, influenced by the light wind and evenings drawing in, chose one of the shorter courses to B (off Silvers) and back. With wind from the Shandon shore, it was inevitable the fixed starting line would be heavily biassed towards the pin end. Teal and Dione played it correctly, arrived in front of the pack and fought for pole position. Thalia started in the right place with boat speed. Hermes and Catriona were hopelessly blanketed and arrived down the line, late and slow.
There were holes in the wind and changes of direction. Those who moved up the order believed they achieved that by skilful reading of the wind. Those who didn’t thought they were unlucky. Anyway, Teal was strong, Dione went the wrong way, (staying too long on the Shandon shore) Halcyone and Luna looked good and Catriona used her boat speed to get up to second place.
Downwind to the starting area, Halcyone suffered for want of a spinnaker. She was single handed. Catriona closed on Teal. There was time for a second round. Teal and Catriona did their best with the changeable air. Catriona twice crossing close behind until Teal opened the gap. Catriona was heading for the Clynder shore, Teal on the opposite tack so as to minimise the effect of wash from a motor launch. She delayed tacking to cover as Catriona found good pressure. Luna, in particular, went the wrong way. Ceres made most of the right decisions.
The water around B went glassy as the pack approached. Teal rounded in front of the rest but the leader was gone. Halcyone lost a place to Thalia, who benefitted from a third sail.
1 Catriona, 2 Teal, 3 Ceres, 4 Dione, 5 Hermes, 6 Thalia, 7 Halcyone, 8 Thia, 9 Luna.
President: