Bob C wrote:
The Grafham Catamaran ? Pro Am Training 14 July 2002
The Grafham Pro-Am training programme continued with the two races in the afternoon of Sunday 14 July. Unfortunately, there was no wind for the morning race which caused a few of the prospective sailors to drift off but the at 12.50 a light NW breeze set in which enabled two short races to be sailed. There were 8 Dart 15s taking part and in the first race Jonathan Perkins made no mistakes and went into an early lead followed by Liz Rugg and Chris Black. On the subsequent reach and run Am, Liz, left her Pro (Chris Black) stuggling to keep up. There then followed a small group comprising John Long, Keith Ball and Bob Rowntree. The race was shortened after just one lap and the finishing sequence was Perkins, Rugg, Black and Ball.
For the next race, the fleet were determined not to be caught out some distance from the line, as some were in the first race. First away was Robert Ulph, closely followed by Liz Rugg and Chris Black. At the windward mark it was Black followed by John Long and Liz Rugg, with the others some way back, caught out by an unfortunate wind shift. Robert Ulph took up the chase in close proximity to chasing Pro, Bob Carter and Keith Ball. At the leeward mark the wind freshened for the chasing pack and they were able to catch the leaders just in time for the gun after the race was again shortened to 1 lap. Thus Robert Ulph won his first race from Carter, Rugg, Black and Ball. The day proved a worth while opportunity for the Grafham sailors to hone their light weather sailing after several heavy weather sessions.
The next Pro Am is on 4 August, which will be the last formal training session prior to the National Championships
Bob Carter, Grafham Fleet Captain
