Comet Trio Open at Hawley Lake Sailing Club

Comet Trios at Hawley Lake © Steve Davis

4 races with 4 winners, a tight day's racing

Changeable winds made it difficult for the race officer Steve Davis to set a consistent course, but a figure of eight course meant that there was a good beat on at least one leg, if not always the same leg, and gave good practice for spinnaker hoisting and lowering. Sunrise had arrived with a new spinnaker shoot and the competition thought that might give them an advantage – in fact it needed some teething issues ironed out in the first couple of races.

Ivy set the pace on the first race finding better pressure away from the islands and continued to creep away throughout the course. In the second race Ivy again got away, but Maniac were able to find some better gusts and overhaul them.

For the third race, it was the turn of Sunrise to get a good start and keep a lead until the finish. For the fourth race it looked like Maniac was going to get a second win as they built a lead of more than a leg, but then Ariel picked up speed and although there were cries of "Mum protest", they weren't part of the racing rules and Ariel passed into the lead.

It was a shame that several boats that could have come were unable to at the last moment, but a sunny day was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to Sam Mayne for winning overall, with his dad, Chris, crewing for him.

Overall Results: