With the wind gusting up to 50 knots at the end of the pier, the YOD’s hid in the harbour while the racing was abandoned.
The wind was Southerly F2-3 with the tide flooding on a bright May morning. The course was Black Rock -2 - # -2- # three times round, all marks to starboard. Six Y’s came to the line, and Puffin and Genista got to the pier first, followed by Diatom and Blandina. Anthea, maybe slowed down by the cargo of G&T’s that persuaded Alan Seward to come crewing, was fifth, while Pimpernel, despite Tony having two watches, started late. The reach to 2 saw no change in the order, but there were a few alarms at the buoy as the XOD’s coming in on port gybe had to avoid the starboard tack Y’s. On the beat to # there was no change in the order, then followed a short spinnaker run back to 2. On the second beat, Diatom tacked at the buoy, followed by Blandina, and found a distinct advantage, reaching # ahead of Puffin and Genista. However, confusion set in and she started to go back to 2 rather than go through the line, losing the two places gained. On lap 2 the order remained the same until the second beat from 2 to #, where Blandina and Diatom tacked at the mark while Puffin and Genista stayed on. Puffin was too far ahead to be caught, but Blandina got into second, with Genista just keeping Diatom out of third. The course was shortened at this point and the top 4 finished followed by Anthea and Pimpernel.