“After a summer’s day on Tuesday, winter showed its teeth over the weekend with a cold NNW’erly breeze on Saturday, and an even colder ENE’erly breeze on Sunday. That said, at least the sun was shining on both days. Although there are still quite a few boats still on their moorings in the southern part of the harbour, the Race Officers, Alexis Dogilewski and BSC Commodore, Jos Coad were able to set a reasonably long course on Saturday as did Mike Samuelson and Alexis on Sunday.
In Saturday’s first race, the lead was hotly contested with Bruce Huber just managing to hold off Mark Downer; third was Jo Downer who did well to finish ahead of her son, George. In the second race, both Bruce & Mark decided to ‘match race’ and in doing so fought each other almost to a standstill which allowed the rest of the Downer family to take the top three places. First was young Alex, who had a storming race; Jo was second and George was third. The final race of the day saw another one, two, three for the Downers, however this time it was Mark who finished ahead of George with Alex in third.
Conditions were rather more boisterous on Sunday with the breeze gusting 25 knots at times which made for some challenging racing. With Bruce Huber not racing, the way was open for Mark Downer to finish first in all three races. He did not disappoint, albeit in the second race of the day, his wife Jo gave him a good run for his money, indeed was just ahead at the end of the first round. Bearing in mind the conditions, the starts of all three races were pretty impressive. In the first, George Downer was spot on but was unable to stop his father from establishing a commanding lead and finishing (after 2 rounds) well ahead. Alastair Speare-Cole, who had not raced the previous day, was third and Jo Downer was fourth.
In the second race it did look at one stage that Jo was going to finish ahead, however it was not to be and she had to be satisfied with coming second ahead of George with Alastair fourth. With the breeze gusting 22 knots at times, there were a number of interesting moments, particularly on the run, but all credit to the helms as no one filled up.
In the third and final race, Mark lead almost from the start and despite best efforts by George, Alastair and Jo, he finished at the top end of the course after two and a half rounds well ahead. The real battle was for the next four places with little to choose between them. An excellent way to end a blustery weekend’ racing.
In the overall results, congratulations again to the Downer family Mark, George & Jo who took the first three places. Fourth was Mike Toogood with three sixth places on Saturday and three fifths on Sunday.
No racing next weekend; the following weekend (10th & 11th November) is the Guy Fawkes Trophy.”
