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Tim Member  Member#: 238 Location: Registered: 01-06-2003 Diary Entries: 343 Mood: Not enough time to do it all. |
12th May 2005 Windsurfing: Brog Race #2 Wind Direction: E Wind Stength: F3-5 Surf / Sea State: Flat Air Temperature: 17 Sea Temperature: 14 Weather: Clear Max Speed: Distance Covered: 13 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Sunny 17 degrees Wind Easterly (offshore) Force 5 + Thursday Night Racing May 12th God how I hate offshore winds! To start with, who the hell knows what it’s blowing down there? We stood like Lemmings debating the position. “Is it windy? 8.5 or 7.5? Everyone seemed to be flying down the bottom, so the majority went for 7.5 and prayed it wouldn’t drop. One brave soul did go for 8.5. but then Mark considers any conditions below Hurricane is 8.5 weather! The course had been laid a couple of hours earlier and the inevitable wind shift had occurred in the meantime. This now meant that the start was in a complete wind shadow, with little swirls and eddies to add to the fun. The original choice of mark was now too far up wind, so a hasty change of course was announced, by the lake manager screaming the decision at the top of his voice. Unfortunately Mike George was a little too far upwind to hear. On the scream of go Mike, Tim and Chris got off to a good start. The rest of us played in the eddies for a bit. Tony sort of drifted into fourth, when he was set upon by a stampede from the rear as the rest of the fleet caught a gust and all charged past, leaving him a little bemused as to what was actually going on. Mike shot into the lead and then promptly went for what he thought was the right mark (well nobody told him) and it was only by much shouting from Chris that made him aware that some bastered had stitched him up The first mark again resembled Beechers Brook on a bad day, as at least half the fleet went for an early bath. Early leader was Dave Lewis, who ploughed a course to the second mark with his 70 cm fin re-designing the bottom of the lake bed as he went. Mike George went in pursuit as did Tim, the rest of us seeming to prefer a bit more aqua aerobics as an alternative pass time. It was becoming very apparent, that with the wind swing, the newly assessed course was becoming a problem, it was becoming increasingly difficult to make the second mark, several of us having to put a tack in. At around lap 3 several participants left the arena for home. Excuse varied to: - My board won’t go downwind, it’s too bloody windy, and my board won’t go round corners. Phil, Annette, and Dave Skye all decided enough was enough and got out while they were still in one piece. Meanwhile the remaining participants carried on the battle. Mike’s board speed was beginning to make its presence felt and at around lap six he took over the lead from Dave. Tim was having his usual disagreements with the various gybe marks, basically an inability to change direction was causing a few problems, though he did have an advantage over the rest of us, for some reason that escapes me everyone was giving him a very wide birth regardless as to whether he was on port or starboard (I can’t think why). Nearing the end now and bodies were beginning to weaken; everyone seemed to be screaming at everyone else “HOW MANY LAPS HAVE YOU DONE?” Why is it windsurfers can’t count? Mike finished first knocking in an extra three laps just to be on the safe side Dave Lewis was a very creditable 2nd Tim the destroyer came 3rd While Chris Foreman went quietly about his business to finish 4th Tony struggled in 5th and collapsed in front of the BBQ and accidentally cooked himself! John Andel having spent a considerable time in the water practising his aerobics could only manage 6th. Robert Johnstone with his second visit to the Gladiators arena ran in 7th While Mark Fowler came 8th, maintaining that he was knobbled by the lake manager who had deliberately laid the first Mark in only 3 fathoms of water, causing his 200 cm fin to ground at that vital gybe moment, resulting in several forward catapults ( well with 10 laps I guess that must have been ten catapults). Is it my fault he drives a super tanker? The rest all retired So with two races gone Mike has certainly thrown down the gauntlet. Will he be this year’s run away winner? Or if our ex champion can be prized off the dance floor (It’s taken up ballroom dancing, the mind boggles at the thought!) will he yet again dash Mike’s hopes. Two races gone, two slaloms, things are looking good. |
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