JUST before the final Flying Fifteen race of the RWYC Spring Series on Windermere, the easterly wind freshened, as forecast, and in blustery conditions gusting to Force 4, a port-hand North lake course was set from a start line on the west shore.

After a short first leg across the lake to Rayrigg on the east shore, the fleet sailed up to Red Nab on the west shore and back down to FBA South to complete a triangle.

As the wind blew more strongly, but unevenly, from the east, the longer legs both became reaches, with little scope for spinnakers, and the fleet soon divided into separate groups, as the newer boats were never able to take advantage of the stronger gusts.

Frank Kelly and Will Mitchell were first round the Rayrigg mark in Fiscal Folly, followed closely by David and Sarah Brockbank sailing the new boat, Five, for the first ime, and Nigel Tullett and Sam Rayner in Kiffs.

Five soon went into the lead, with Kiffs managing to use the spinnaker round Red Nab on the second lap on a broader course to climb into second place.

Over the remaining laps Five built up an impregnable lead, while further down the fleet Nick and Jo London in Cahoots and Rob Sellers and Roger Brown in Freebooter II fought a close battle for fourth place.

At the finish line, Five took a well-deserved first place, with Kiffs second and Fiscal Folly third, while Freebooter held on to finish in a good fourth place.

The Spring Series was won by Frank Kelly in Fiscal Folly, with a first and third place.

April 24, 2003 16:30