COWES DINGHY WEEK 2010

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Day 4 and a first for Dinghy week and two race for our class today.

Today was about playing the Brave , Cautious and stupid cards in what started as 20 knots of breeze. Those candles I brought before the 2009 are sure powerfull !!!!!!!

With a downwind start against the tide the first of the cards was to be played. Paul decided to play the brave card and hoisted his kite followed by James , Joules and Laurie. The run down to Gurnard off Eygpt point wasnt too much of a problem and Paul rounded first followed by James , Joules and Laurie. With the wind against tide the beat out into the solent was a hang on and hope you dont get washed off event. Paul made it to the windward mark at Gurnard ledge first just behind the F18 and Hurricane....... note Shadows do go well up wind. James rounded second followed by Laurie and Joules.

The next leg was a close reach across the solent with Paul playing the stupid card by trapezing in an attempt to overtake the F18 and Hurricane . When will this boy learn........with speeds of 20 to 22 knots it was only to end in one way a pitchpole at speed .......... note to Brain when in the lead always play the cautious card. Good old 018 was singing along but James took over from Paul and whilst playing the same stupid card capsized close to mainlaind shore. Laurie still playing the cautious card lead from Joules and a recovering Paul.

Note to race officer lepe spit wind against tide and even BIGGER seas what are we doing here !!!!!!!.

Laurie lead on like the brave 100 .........Bear with me here this is dramtic stuff !!!!!

So Laurie crossed first at AA marine followed by Joules , Paul and James .

So we were down to 4 brave , stupid souls .......... you pick. the remaining Shadows had played the cautious card and headed for shore.

So race 6 and only 4 brave souls left . James decided to retire after the start certain in his mind that Carl would believe that the big bend in 44 boom was not his fault but down to some low flying sea gull that collided with it ......... well hope the insurance company accept it ......... sure they will.

So down to 3 like the brave 100 onwards to wards the cannons ........ sorry wrong story. With the breeze upto 25 knots the seas were getting bigger its amazing how far a shadow can fly from one wave to the next ....... not fun .

Laurie got the best of the start followed by Joules and Paul with a defunt traveller lashed in the mid position. At the windward mark it was Laurie leading following by Joules and Paul. Joules decided to play the Brave or was it stupid card and hoisted his spinniker , Laurie deciding that the cautious card was the way to go stuck with mainsail only. Paul having already played the stupid card went for it again and hoisted his kite .......... thinking why didnt I listen to Laurie.

Joules built a small lead over the next lap from Laurie and Paul .

So finally the brave 3 finished . Joules first , Laurie second and Paul third.

So two more races to go and Laurie has a good lead but hey may be that stupid card maybe heading his way with Robin , JOules and Paul still a possible .

So stay tuned folks ....... same time ........ same bat channel.

Paul
GBR018