South Cerney 18th June 2006

Eleven Europes gathered at South Cerney on 18th June, eight visitors and three locals. It would have been thirteen, but for continuing injuries in the Bexhill fleet and a time-warp between Crosby and Gloucestershire which caused Dave Kent to turn up on the wrong day!

The wind was light and variable until we stepped ashore from the last race, when it filled in enough for the sailboards to go out for a blast.

Katie Mapplebeck got away well at the first start, as did Chris Jones. Local Liz Macdonald found the right way up the first beat after a poor start and soon appeared in second place behind Katie, closing on her and overtaking on the second lap. Our National Champion James Eynon gradually improved his placing and also passed Katie but Liz was well away in front.

After lunch the wind shifts gave us a port tack reaching start, which we managed at the second attempt after one general recall. James was first at the windward mark, with an overlap inside the leading Lasers, who had just arrived at the start of their second lap. There was close racing within the Europes and Lasers, James losing out to Katie for a leg or two, while Liz came through to third.

The breeze filled in a little for the third start, with Richard Eagleton looking good briefly, but he was done for by a horrible wind hole lying in wait at the windward mark.  James rounded first, followed by Chris and Katie. Liz was not well placed at that stage, but she found the right way to the front of the fleet, while Chris overtook James to get second as the breeze faded and the race was shortened.

It was another excellent turnout for the Europes, for the third weekend in a row. With ten at Bexhill, twenty eight at Portland and eleven at South Cerney, a total of thirty four Europes raced at the three events.

Richard Eagleton GBR330