WINTER PURSUIT SERIES: 10 Dec 2023

Published 19:08 on 10 Dec 2023

After a windy few days the forecast suggested a gentle 9mph wind from the SW. Perfect.... or it would have been! To be fair the first race of the day was run in a 6-9mph SW breeze, which swung southerly as the race progressed. Jess Pound's (ILCA4) upwind speed set her off well and it took a good proportion of the race for Phil Dickinson (ILCA7) and Steve Fletcher (Blaze) to reel her in and overtake.

With the wind sat at the forecast S direction a change of course was set for the second race of the day. This was probably the most challenging race of the day with the wind dying and shifting northerly as Jess started. Over the next 45 minutes the wind cocked around most points of the compass but thankfully increased slightly allowing crews to feel at least some sense of speed. Despite the frustrating wind the second race ran close. At the front of the fleet in the closing minute Steve Fletcher (Blaze) narrowed the gap on Phil's lead. Likewise the battle for 3rd and 4th went to the wire with Lara and Phil Eagleton narrowly missing out on catching Jess.

Full race results are available here 2023 Winter Pursuit Series : Results at 10th Dec

Thanks to all for turning up - great to have a 420 out on the water. The final 2 races are scheduled for Sunday 24th December 2023 (10:30 and 11:30).

If you intend racing please let Lisa know ( sailsec@scalingdam.org ) by the evening of Friday 22nd so we know if we have enough takers.

Here's a few photos from races #3 and #4