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Albacore Open Meeting, South Cerney
6 May - Monarch’s birthday party
On 6th May 1976 the first ever Woof built Albacore
was registered as 6403 "Monarch". On 6th May 2006 it seemed
only fair that Monarch and her friends should have a 30th Birthday
party (aided by their owners of course), so following an afternoon
sail festooned in pennants and a helium balloon, there was a fantastic
3 course meal with the odd drink thrown in.
Next day everyone got up bright and early to compete in the annual
South Cerney Open Meeting. Although it was unexpectedly sunny and
warm, the wind was very light and patchy. By coincidence the youngest
of the Woof boats (7143 "Against all Odds") arrived to
race with Monarch, and as it turned out the two of them were in
close company all day.
After much place changing as puffs filled and failed, Against all
Odds took the honours in Race 1 with Monarch in second, and "Ozily
Emiver" (a young upstart Speed boat) third. Race 2 was similarly
affected by the conditions, but this time Monarch beat Against all
Odds into second, with “Supersonic” (another famous Woof
boat) third, leaving everything to play for in the last race.
In race 3 Monarch worked out a big lead by the first mark and proceeded
to extend it on the next two legs, whilst Against all Odds was swamped
in the melee of the fleet. All seemed to be over until the new wind
finally arrived (from behind the fleet of course) giving the entire
fleet a moving restart. First around the next buoy was Against all
Odds, followed closely by Monarch and Supersonic. Despite trying
very hard, and very nearly making it several times Monarch just
couldn't get past, so positions at the front of the fleet remained
the same even though the competition was intense.
Overall results:
1st 7143 Against All Odds, Matt Potter and Mark Fowler (Notts County)
2nd 6403 Monarch, Norman Halstead and Ruth Birkett (South Cerney)
3rd 6439 Supersonic, Jean and Derek Simmons (South Cerney)
4th 8000 Ozily Emiver, Trevor and Anne Smith (Maidenhead)
5th 7995 Phoebe, Steve and Helen Whittle (Tewkesbury)
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