Nottinghamshire County SC Open Meeting

The weather turned out better than expected with sun greeting the competitors and enough wind to provide sporadic planing. In race 1, three blue boats were neck and neck on the approach to the windward mark. Nigel May & Nicola Ogden were on the inside, Sam & Fiona Mettam were in the middle but it was Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne who were on the top who managed to roll the other two to take the lead. Unfortunately Sam & Fiona were OCS and retired. Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart flew down the first reach into second and pressurised Graham & Zoe round the next three laps but Graham & Zoe held first through to the finish.

The wind was shifting through 90 degrees in race 2 so all bets were off as to who would get to the windward mark first. In the end it was Graham & Zoe who rounded first with Jon & Charlotte hot on their heels once again. A gust accelerated Graham & Zoe into an un-catchable lead. The fight was now on for second. Jon & Charlotte had a close battle with Philip & Helen David, with Sam Mettam nipping at their heels. But Jon & Charlotte held second to the finish.

The wind was steadier for the final race. This time it was Philip & Helen's turn to take the lead with Jon & Charlotte in pursuit. Philip & Helen held the lead until the penultimate beat when Jon & Charlotte got through to win the race and claim second place overall.

Overall results

1^st Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne N3492 Babel Fish

2^nd Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart N3494 Monkey Business

3^rd Philip & Helen David N3217  Blue Monday

4^th Sam Mettam & Fiona Mettam N3429 Fools Gold