However PRO Peter Constable got things moving and we were off at 10.00 initially for a one off race in which there was a cash prize for the winner, but with stringent retirement rules. This was won by Colin Trower (I never found out how much cash the prize was). We then started in earnest the main races, which with the long windward legs, were going to test boat speed and windward tacking skills. The wind speed varied between 3 and 12mph but remained always from the NE which gave Peter the opportunity to use the whole of the Rick Pond lake for a windward beat of 600’ or so. So despite having as many as 13 boats on the start line, by the first windward mark the boats were mostly sorted into a comfortable rounding order. Initially the race plan was to have schedule with 3 skippers off to observe. This would require 13 races to be sailed, to ensure that all skippers had equal numbers of races and turns as observers. The long course was taking about 15mins per race and by race 3 it seemed likely that we would not complete the schedule by the cutoff at 15.00 Hrs. So after 5 races when each skipper had done a turn as observer, Peter switched to an ‘all on’ schedule using non sailing club members as observers. Now there was no minimum number of races needed. In the event we completed 15 races and skippers were visibly tiring by the end of racing. A quick calculation shows they walked close to 7miles during the day!

        From the start local hero Dave Andrews was the man to watch. In fact he was never out of 1^st place, but Hugh McAdoo, Colin Trower, Roger Stollery were always challenging. To his surprise and his clubmates, Laurie Bower was up with the leaders also. Some skippers were caught out by the shallowness of our lake near the edges. Sailing at Hampton Court is somewhat of an acquired skill and perhaps accounts for the local skippers doing well, however Guildford club will be particularly pleased with having their 2 skippers in the first 5 places, in fact Roger Stollery had the most 1^st places. There were prizes for the first five places.