Photos by Gareth Fudge - www.boatographic.co.uk
A light North North West wind greeted the sailors, giving them a long slow beat out to the course area, and it proved to be even more fickle than the breeze on day 2.
Race 1 got away at the forth attempt under a black flag.
Reg & Gemma were 1st at windward mark. There were a lot or place changes amoung the chasing pack on the next lap which saw Sarah & Sandy move up to second and Ollie & Archie Hawkins up to third ahead of Richard & Thomas Sender and Colin & Polly Stephens.
Race 2 got away at the first attempt with a number of boats OCS, but this was to prove controversial later. Dave & Ed Coady went left, sailing very fast, and took advantage of the wind shifting left to build a big lead at the windward mark over Alexander & Douglas Simpson with Reg & Gemma in 3rd. The reach to the gybe mark was very tight in a dying wind and the wind shifted again making the next reach tight. The wind continued to drop with big patches where boats were totally becalmed. The course was shortened to one lap. The first three boats finished in ghosting conditions, but then the wind filled in from the North and built quickly, favouring those furthest to windward on the reach.
Race 3 got away at the first attempt, Dave & Ed were 1st to the windward mark with Sarah & Sandy second and Scarlett Shepherd & Harvey Martin 3rd. On the reaches Reg & Gemma and Henry & Jamie Rastrick overtook Scarlett & Harvey with the wind dropping all the time. On the second beat, with the wind almost gone, Dave & Ed and Sarah & Sandy went left, but the wind died compleatly on that side of the course. Reg & Gemma and Henry & Jamie went right into a small area of very light wind and tacked up the right - middle of the beat. Then the wind filled in from the south in a random patchy manner such that boats were running or reaching to the "Windward" mark where the course was shortened. Henry & Jamie were first ahead of Reg & Gemma with Dave & Ed 3rd.
A request for redress against the Race Committee was lodged by Gemma Keers regarding the start of race 2, claiming that so many boats were OCS there should have been a General Recall, rather than individual recalls. This was backed up by video evidence from the Coach Boat. The Protest Committee found that the race should stand, but Gemma Keers who had been ajudged OCS was re-instated.
The results can be found at: http://www.brixhamyachtclub.com/racing/2014/results/mirrorsnatsos.html
Photos from Day 3 are on www.boatographic.co.uk from where they can be purchased.
