Saturday 14th February 2009

I rigged the Topper to go across the estuary and sort out the new J mark.  When I got back Ivan was around and he got his Laser ready. We both had lunch. David Booth arrived and prepared the the GP14. Derek launched his kayak and paddled off towards the lighthouse.

We were all in the water well before an hour and a half before high water. The tide was running strong but on the other side of the river, on the Club side the flow was towards the sea - fresh river water? The wind was around force 2, south south easterly, steady and the sea was smooth. Even though it was a gloomy cold day the conditions were perfect for sailing, ideal for beginnners, let's hope we get days like this when it gets warmer and we can get Michael, Paul, Amy and Kate into boats.

We had one long race sailing roundall the remaining racing marks.
'F' to starboard; 'A's; 'B's; 'C'p; 'E's; 'G's; 'H's; 'J'p; 'M's and back through the line.

The boats finished in handicap order, Laser - GP14 - Topper.

Martin Lord was the Rescue Boat driver. When the racing was over we received a phone call in the Club from a resident of Sunderland village saying that one of our racing marks was over there. Martin collected Ivan and they went over and towed it back together with a hugh piece of old steel gantry! They said it is very heavy, as we were handed the line to pull it ashore, not realising that they had brought half of Sundaerland Point back with them!

I'm delighted to be able to tell you it was mark 'T' - the Hippo buoy, which had gone astray a fortnight ago. Great! Thanks very much Martin, Ivan and the residents of Sunderland village.