PAUL Anderson, Officer of the Day, had the best view of it and he recorded Bob Sampson’s Laser 4.7 as starting first but it was a close run thing, Liam Routley’s Laser Radial and the Toppers of Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf being the other boats doing the close running.

The first buoy was Dam Green and there the order was not in doubt; Bob Sampson rounded the buoy first with Jane Anderson second and Vicki Duncalf third, Liam Routley being delayed by the need to do a penalty turn.

Various pre-start disasters disasters befell the Graduate of Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley, leading to their retirement as well as Adam Hilton’s Bosun which had to be pushed off a lee shore by his crew, Jenny Routley.

Sampson finished the race four minutes ahead of Anderson but it was not enough to give him victory when the handicaps were applied.

Results: 1 Jane Anderson (Topper); 2 Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7); 3 Vicki Duncalf (Topper). Retired: Brian Pollard (Graduate), Adam Hilton and Jenny Routley (Bosun), Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

BOB Sampson was again the first to start; the two Toppers were second and third.

John Dabbs joined the fleet with Linda Spiller crewing, but he mistimed his start and crossed at the back of the field.

No matter, they had the satisfaction of hauling the Bosun up to second at the finish on lap four, while the handicap gave them third as Anderson took victory.

Results: 1 Jane Anderson (Topper); 2 John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun); 3 Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 4 Liam Routley (Laser Radial); 5 Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate).

Thanks were expressed to officer of the day Paul Anderson, photographer Mandy Pollard and Dave Perrett who manned the safety boat with Nathan Pollard.