Scorpion National Championships at Teign Corinthian Yacht Club - Day 5
by Rachel Rhodes 15 Aug 2014 08:56 BST
9-15 August 2014
Day 5 in Teignmouth and it was raining cats and dogs. After a leisurely morning the fleet launched in a light breeze.
The first race of the day got away with Annabel Vose and Alex Hayman leading the way and Pete Gray and Rich Pepperdine in hot pursuit. After completing the first lap the race officer decided he would try and move his windward mark only to then lose it! Because of this the race was abandoned after 40 minutes of racing which left the fleet feeling very bemused.
Eventually the race officer found his marks and got the race away again. Second time lucky! This time Tom Gillard and Sam Breary took the lead again followed by Oli Wells and Penny Jeffcotte who had found the 'go' button in the lighter breeze.
With the wind on the shift again the beat turned into a 20 minute fetch to the windward mark. This time though the race officer decided to leave his marks where they were and not attempt to move them! Tom and Sam went on to win the race from Pete Gray and Rich Pepperdine with Andy McKee and Chris Massey pulling up to third.
With the time getting on the second race of the day was postponed and the fleet sent ashore to prepare for the penthouse Cava party and the letter T fancy dress night.
2 races are planned for Friday's last day of racing with an early start time of 10.30 am. Tom and Sam are firmly in the driving seat now with 4 race wins whilst Pete Gray and Andy Mckee battle it out for the other podium positions.