The race officer informed the assembled that a triangle/sausage course would be set, with an upwind gate, and so the racing started in light and variable winds. Five minutes after the start a 180-degree windshift turned the upwind gate into a downwind gate (causing a rules debate that raged on well into lunch). Skip and Chay Atkins and Mike Hart with Olly Pickard were so engrossed in tactics at the front of the field that they tried to lead several boats around the wrong mark, allowing Tim and Linda Hulley to finish in first and mid-fleet boats to gain valuable places. The final downwind race to the upwind gate finish line caused one or two boats to come to grief, namely Richard and Sue Morley who capsized yards from the finish.

After a brief lunch the fleet braved a squall of hail and rain to make its way to the (re-set) start line. Throughout the weekend the starts were very competitive demonstrated by a general recall in race two and three boats declared OCS at the restart. The race was taken by Skip and Chay Atkins, followed by Helen and Andrew Phillips, with Trevor and Caroline Bradley in third. Several near capsizes saw the retirement of a couple of boats from the day’s events.

The wind had built throughout the day giving challenging reaches on the triangular course with a few capsizes, and mutinous crews divided as to whether to carry the gennaker on the bottom reach. Consequently a reduced field participated in the final race for the day. In what was to be the pattern for the rest of the weekend, first place was taken by Mike Hart and Olly Pickard, followed by the Atkins and the Hulleys.

Going into the clubhouse at the end of the first day, competition in the top half of the fleet was particularly intense, with only two points separating fourth to tenth place.

Sunday saw more consistent winds, but the new buildings under construction on the western shores of the bay gave some interesting wind shifts at the windward mark. Races 4 and 5 saw Mike Hart and Olly Pickard and Skip and Chay Atkins engaged in some tense match racing at the front of the fleet, with Tim and Linda Hulley never far away. Race 6 saw Mike Hart and Olly Pickard shoot into a commanding lead that was maintained for the whole of that race, with the Atkins and Hulleys following them across the line.

CBYC commemorative glassware was awarded to the five winning boats, with Kodak sponsoring underwater cameras for the junior competitors (Karen/Mark Baldwin, William Sloper, Chay Atkins, Mark Henley).

Overall Results (6 races sailed, 2 discards)

1st 2806, Mike Hart and Olly Pickard, Royal Hospital School, 4pts

2nd 2022, Skip and Chay Atkins, Stone Sailing Club, 7pts

3rd 2854, Tim and Linda Hulley, Weir Wood Sailing Club, 9pts

4th 21072, Trevor and Caroline Bradley, Littleton Sailing Club, 15pts

5th 21033, Helen and Andrew Phillips, Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, 17pts