ILCA Open at Overy Staithe Sailing Club

The eighteen boats entered on day one, which was abandoned for lack of wind, was whittled down to ten at the start of day 2, with the anemometer in the Boathouse registering force 6 gusting 7, although this fell to a more manageable force 5 gusting 6 as the racing got under way.

In Race 1 Ashley Deakin established a commanding lead and enjoyed the luxury of tacking round the gybe mark. Sam Neal from Brancaster finished second over the water and Alec Deakin third. However Lucy Deakin took third once the handicaps were worked out.

In Race 2 the fleet was reduced to three Deakins and Sam Neal. We had a line squall and a furious downpour making the Race Officer's paper soggy and causing a lot of capsizes, even Ashley. Alec took first place with Ashley second having gybed inside the tacking Sam Neal at the last mark. Lucy did some ballet in a force 7 squall on the last downwind leg and managed fourth.

Overall Results:

Very many thanks to the Race Crew for running racing in extremely challenging conditions: Tara Douglas Home in Fisherman; Ben & Paul Goakes in Sundowner; Bernard & Ellie Clark in the club safety boat; Jennie Clark shore crew and Andy Turner and Alex Scoles in committee boat Blossom.