Held on Sunday 29^th June the day was far more than just the fourth round for the Ronnie Richardson Sail Trophy because it included two races from the aborted round three held at the end of April. In order to finish the total of five races at a reasonable time we convened at 10.30 am. instead of the usual 12.30 pm.

The weather on Sunday 29^th June was ideal for yacht racing with a blustery wind under a cloudy but bright sky and we were very confident we would complete the five races in a reasonable time. We had a very good turnout of skippers with six contesting Class A, ten in Class B and two in Class C (marbleheads). In fact we had a couple more - we had an additional guest in Class A who raced a modified Victoria and in Class C we had another skipper but unfortunately he had electrical problems and did not contest any races. Twenty skippers present - it can't be bad!!

The first race started at approximately 10.55 am and was the aborted race from Race 2 in Round 3. Line honours in Class A were taken by Dave Tucker with Paul Cooper second and Nicholas Clayton third. Class B was taken Dave Chalk with Kevin Chiles in second place and Anthony Sisley in third. In Class B it was good to see Chris Chainey competing for the first time this year with his new boat and Kevin Chiles and Anthoy Sisley also were competing with their new yachts. Unfortunately there were no competitors in Class C.

The third and final race of Round 3 was next on the water and in Class A Nicholas Clayton took line honours with again Paul Cooper in second place and Dave Tucker in third. Chris Harding took first place in Class B followed by Anthony Sisley in second and Harry Hunt in third. We now had competitors in Class C and John Thorneycroft, in his first appearance this year, won with Derek Filmer was second.

This completed the races in Round 3 and before starting Round 4 a lunch break was taken.

 And so to Round 4 and Race 1.

Class A this time being won by Alex Bevan with Dave Elsworth coming in second and Nicholas Clayton in third place. Class B was again won by Dave Chalk with Rita Holmes coming in a very creditable second with Chris Harding in third place. In Class C John Thorneycroft took line honours with Derek Filmer in second place.

In Race 2 Dave Tucker again took the honours in Class A with Nicholas Clayton in second place and Dave Elsworth in third. Chris Harding won Class B with Anthony Sisley in second and Kevin Chiles in third place. Derek Filmer won Class C with John Thorneycroft in second place.

And so to Race 3 and the final race of the day. Dave Tucker was having a great day and took the honours again in Class A followed very closely by Nicholas Clayton with Dave Elsworth in third place. David Chalk, after a disastrous second race earlier, won Class B followed Anthony Sisley and Chris Harding. John Thorneycroft won for the third time in Class C with Derek Filmer in second.

This concluded the day's activities and after the tidying up operation and a chat the skippers made their way home happy, and tired, after a good day's sailing in a brisk wind and a warm and overcast day.

Comments coming from some of the skippers were that the red turn buoys at top left and top right of the course were difficult to see - it is hoped we can replace them with yellow or white ones. Also the placement of the top right buoy is consistently in a very "dead" area of the lake windwise - the co-ordinators of the sail section will be looking at the position of this buoy and the course layout in general in order that all the turn buoys are in the wind.

The leading overall positions after Round 4 (12 races) are as follows:

Round 5 for the Ronnie Richardson Sail Trophy will held on Sunday 27^th of July commencing at our regular time of 12.30 pm

The photographs below have been kindly provided by Alan and Debbie