Twilight race 6
Published 19:50 on 15 May 2025
Yet another very pleasant evening at Shotwick Lake.
Shotwick racers should be used to these variable and challenging conditions by now. Race 6 saw familiar names at the top of the results, with an Aero sandwich around a second place Lightning!
This week our intrepid correspondent is Eddie, who was on Race officer duty with Brian:
The evening forecast of an Easterly blowing 8-12knts attracted 13 boats on to the water.
Eddie and Brian officiated the race. Sara, currently hors-de-combat through injury (or sacked by Mark Neild is being hotly debated), acted as the unofficial VAR referee at the Y Mark.
Safety crew, Mark and Nick got their start line set perfectly after wrestling with a drifting marker.
The easterly wind offered a good beat (1 to 6) over the length of the lake, followed by the downwind section of 5, Y, 3, 1. Such were the sailing conditions the eager crews had their boats on the water nice and early. This gave the opportunity to kick-off early and make the most the evening.
Most unlike a Shotwick lake race there were a number of boats jostling for the same bit of water at the start. The start hooter (moped horn) tooted and we had an incident with the coming together of Miracle Simon and Julie and Aero Jeanette. Penalties were taken by the Miracle. Due to potential legal proceeding not a lot more can be said here as, Jeanettes whiplash injury claim and alleged loss of a Rolex watch and iPhone16 in the incident may be pending. Simon and Julie rapidly recovered their composure and made good progress up the fleet.
Back to more important matters. As the race started the shocking realisation struck Eddie and Brian that they had brought no food or drinks with them. Sara spotted our distress and yelled something unrepeatable from her deck chair (VAR booth). With hindsight she may well have been shouting at Mark Neild as the pattern seemed to reoccur every time he passed the Y Mark.
Kieran took an early lead from the start, clocking up a lap time of circa 9 minutes. Interestingly the fleet was strung out over lap 1 with very little bunching. The last boat completed lap 1 in about 15 minutes. A quick meeting was arranged between Eddie and Brian, who together devised a cunning plan to make it a 1 hour long race.
Without the aid of any food (save for a single banana which Eddie ate whilst Brian wasn't looking) they both focused their attention on the lap timings. The easterly wind was holding up nicely and there had been little change in the fleet order. The two Miracles in the fleet had the opportunity for lots of spinnaker practice and both looked resplendent in the evening sun. Almost Turner-esque.
Finally the time came to shorten the course, squeak, squeak went the hooter, whoosh went the shortened course S flag as it was raised by Brian.
Finish timings were recorded and remarkably the last boat off the course finished in 60 minutes and 3 seconds. By George we did it exclaimed Brian. Well slap my thigh and call me Norman, we jolly well did, said Eddie.
Race 6 results: 1. Kieran Lewis (Aero 7). 2, Jeremy Cooper (Lightning). 3, Jeanette Davies (Aero 7).
Overall after 6 races: 1. Jeremy Cooper (Lightning). 2, Simon and Julie Dolman (Miracle). 3. Conrad Brown (Laser)
Photos: Sara B (more on Facebook)
Last updated 12:36 on 17 May 2025
