Only three boats take to the river in penultimate race

Sunday saw the penultimate race in the year’s calendar and a chance to get on the water after a couple of weeks cancelled through river conditions.

With a forecast of increasing winds during the day and a fresh breeze blowing on arrival, some sailors decided it was going to be too much for them and declined the opportunity.
First race of the day was started with three boats coming to the start line in a freshening breeze, and it was the two Lasers both on Radial reduced rigs sailed by Andy Prior and Mark Holland that were first away from the Mirror of Eric Murray who had released himself from the reeds on the opposite bank to get to the start line in time.
With the wind blowing down the clubhouse straight it was a long and short tack all the way to Chilvers Corner and Prior had already pulled out a lead from Holland when they started the tight reach to the first turning mark on the 2-lap course.
Rounding the mark it was the tricky off-wind leg with the potential of planing or a capsize on the clubhouse straight and it was Holland who obliged and found himself swimming but he was up and sailing again to chase down Prior who had encountered difficulties with gear enabling Holland to close the gap.
However Prior had overcome these in time and once again pulled away on the beat. On the second lap places did not change and Murray was finished on a one-lap time and with no mishaps on this lap it was Prior who crossed the line to finish first with Holland in second and Murray in third.
The second race started with the forecast of increasing wind not yet materialising and the same three boats ventured out.
With both Murray and Holland in some difficulty before the off, Prior was on his own on the start line and sailed away.
The course had been shortened to just one lap and the rounding sequence changed to take out a potential gybe and capsize at the clubhouse buoy.
Holland gave chase on Prior but did his efforts no good when he managed to slide out the boat in a gust of wind and once again found himself in the water.
Murray had by this time retired leaving just the two Laser Radials to complete the course which they duly did without any further mishaps, Prior took first place and Holland in second on a testing day for the helms .
Boxing Day is the last race of the season for the Brass Monkey Trophy and weather permitting this normally proves a popular way to work off the previous day’s excesses.