16 Flying Fifteens turned out for the DBSC race last night (Thursday, August 9th). There was a force 3 S/SE wind, with the tide flooding. After the success of their children in recent Optimist events, it was the turn of the parents to take centre stage, with Dave and Sarah Gorman taking the gun in a comfortable win. Full results
The fleet were spread out over the line at the start but it seemed right towards the shore was the way to go with the incoming tide. However, most of the fleet kept going out left in the hope of more breeze. Three boats were over the line, with only two going back; the other culprit would only be found out at the finish.
Meanwhile, the Gormans started at the committee boat and went towards the shore and had quickly established a lead. At the weather mark (Battery) it was very shifty and most of the boats were struggling, Gorman led the way with Ian Mathews second, followed by a cluster of boats that included McCambridge, Green, Mulvin and Leonard. On the reach, these were all busy luffing each other up, allowing the two leaders to increase their leads further.
Next it was a sausage up to Omega and back to Molly. The two lead boats kept their places but it was nip tuck in the ‘pelaton’, with Tom Leonard and Ben in third place and Green in fourth, with Mulvin and McCambridge on their tails.
The last beat was in to Bullock. The tide was a little slacker by now; Gorman and Mathews and most of the fleet went towards the shore but Green headed out to the left with more breeze and in an effort to avoid the disturbance from all the other boats out on the course. This paid as he closed the gap with Mathews and had a comfortable third position.
With a run to Poldy and a reach to Pier mark, things stayed much the same. Dave had Sarah working hard and deservedly took the gun, Mathews was second with Green third, but any satisfaction was short-lived as it was he who was over the line at the start! This put Mulvin third, Murphy fourth and Ken Dumpleton an excellent fifth after going back at the start.
