Racing at Ardleigh SC

The first Splash event of the season took place in near perfect if somewhat gusty conditions. With a committee boat start the race officer set three near perfect courses.
In the first race Simon Barker and William Johnson fought a close battle for a number of laps with Will Powell and Victoria Marfleet breathing  down their necks. On the final beat Simon and Will split tacks and at the finish both crossed the line together giving the OOD the unusual problem of having two winners. With the wind moderating marginally the second race was started and Will Powell with a magnificent start stormed off into an early lead hotly pursued by Simon, Will, Victoria and Chris. Eventually Simon reeled in Will Powell to take his second win of the day with Will J in third.
Lunchtime provided a chance to warm up and sample the excellent Ardleigh baked potatoes. Warmed and refuelled the fleet set out for the final race of the day in what appeared to be moderated conditions. At the start Ollie Gozzett took a flyer storming off into an early lead. Big gusts and some superb reaches saw some spectacular gybes and close high speed racing During the first half of the race the lead was swapped between Ollie, Victoria and Chris. The gybe mark proved to be the spectators favourite. The prize for the most spectacular effort of the day went to Simon as he blasted through Ray Smith’s Lee, went for the gybe and then the swim. Will Johnson carved his way through the fleet taking the lead with two laps to go. Simon Barker recovered well to pull through to second. Ray Smith kept adult pride intact by sailing an excellent race to finish in third place just ahead of Victoria. This wasn’t a day for the faint hearted and all through the fleet there were huge personal victories Rosie Johnson and Ben Clegg in their first open sailed superbly in the conditions.
With results tallied up Will Johnson narrowly took the event from Simon Barker with William Powell in third.
A big thankyou to Ardleigh SC, showing itself to be a superb venue with excellent course laying by the OOD and plenty of good warm food and drink just when its needed.

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