BOD RACING OVER EASTER
Although the Club itself was closed over Easter and the decision had been made to not have any formal racing, BODA was back on the water with racing being managed by the participants.
On Good Friday there were 4 boats out, racing in bright sunshine and a NE 4 from Nainby to Janson, channel mark 2A, twice round finishing at Nainby.
Russ Fowler (with Simon Allocca) in No 1 had a close race with Mark Grz (with Roy Burrows) in No 9 throughout but Jos Coad (with Peter Summerhayes) in No 2, caught them both on the final run to 2A and, with Russ and Mark concentrating on covering each other, Jos went about getting clear wind and pipped them both on the short beat back to Nainby to win. Alexander Ross (with Sophie) in No 8 followed in not far behind.
On Saturday there were only 3 boats, Alexander in No 8, Mark in No 9 and Jos Coad in No 2.
Starting, again in bright sunshine in a NE 3 with a line between channel marks 2A and 3A, the course was a long beat to Derrick, back to Pepe and a final beat back to the line. Kept to one round as they needed to be sure the RIBs would still be there to take them ashore, Alexander got away from Mark with Jos following up last. Although they closed right up In the closing stages, Alexander just pipped Mark and Jos.
On Sunday there were again 3 boats in initially a very light breeze which then rose to a F4 SW’erly as they left the harbour. Peter Summerhayes (with Russ Fowler) in No 1 beat Mark in No 9 with Alexander (and his son Geordie) in No 8 following behind. With no Illusion racing Mark kindly rowed everyone out to their boats and back! 
The racing had got later and later each day and with high water at 7pm on Monday it had been decided that this was too late for racing.
The weather was perfect for the 3 days of racing – lovely sunshine and excellent wind to give us a wonderful start to the season. It was obviously sad that there weren’t more boats out but with mainlanders encouraged to remain at home, they were missed. ‘Informal’ racing again next weekend and then its back to normal the following one (17th & 18th April).
Finally, its been agreed that the Oppenheim Trophy (normally raced for over Easter) will be raced over the weekend of 15th & 16th May.
