Gul UK Nationals - Day 1

Sailors arriving at Restronguet Sailing Club for the first day of the Gul UK Nationals found it was a bit mizzley, but after a short delay, the fleet launched and racing got under way in a solid 3-4 but with lots of lighter patches, sudden gusts and shifts which caused a few capsizes, lots of place changes and kept the Race Team busy. Racing on the windward-leeward course was held in the north end of the Carrick Roads and the ebbing spring tide caused a few some problems around the windward mark. The water was reported as 'quite warm' by those who capsized and 'quite shallow near the windward mark' by Steve Bland from Poole YC who capsized, got his mast stuck in the mud and bent it getting it out.

First blood went to Stan & Penny Bland from Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney with Esme Shepherd & Nuala Sellwood from Restronguet taking second. In Race two there was a general recall, but the fleet got away at the second attempt under a 'P' flag. This time it was Simon & Tyson Barwood from Royal Freshwater Bay YC who took the bullet with Dave & Imogen Wade from Northampton SC 2nd.

By the time of the third race it had finally stopped raining. The fleet got away first time, but with Tom Ewart-Smith & Monty Heath from Itchenor SC ajudged OCS. This time Dave & Imogen took line honours after a close battle with Simon & Tyson.

So Dave & Imogen won the day with Esme & Nuala 2nd overall, Richard & George Bullock from Itchenor SC 3rd. Full results here.