Week 4 Northern Brass Monkey Series 2009

Fabulous racing conditions swelled the entries for West Riding SC's Northern Brass Monkey Series to 23, with more visitors adding spice to proceedings. 8 mph from the South gradually built during the 2 back-to-back races to give some exhilarating sailing as the day wore on. Upwind shifts favoured both the left and right sides on various occasions, allowing plenty of place changing in the body of the fleet. Last week's Race Officer, Tim Keighley, was back in his Laser, as was Mike Woodhead's Finn after his stint of rescue duty alongside Tim. Hungry for some sailing after missing out on last week's boisterous conditions, the two of them stormed off the starting line and had established a useful lead by the windward mark. Keighley's Laser dominated and gradually pulled away from the heavier Finn on the reaches to win comfortably on the water and handicap. For a time Woodhead was hounded by Adrian Thear's Laser, but it was Woodhead who eventually broke clear to finish second on the water and on handicap.

There was the usual mid-fleet scrap between the Solos, joined as the race wore on by Peter Tyerman's Streaker, which appeared to have the edge on the Solos off wind. James Porter's Solo eventually built up a cushion to lead this group across the line to finish 3^rd overall from Tyerman's Streaker, with John Gledhill's and Howard Frear's Solos 5^th and 6^th.

Keighley and Woodhead put on a repeat performance in the second race to duplicate the first race results. Brian Goodwin's Laser and Neil Barrett and Chloe Galea in their Lark chased hard to finish 3^rd and 4^th on the water. Again the four Solos of Frear, Gledhill, Porter and Roy Goodison and Tyerman's Streaker battled hard. Initially Frear's Solo held sway, but as the wind got up Gledhill got through and opened up a gap to finish 3^rd overall from Goodwin's Laser, the Barrett & Galea Lark, and Tyerman's Streaker 6^th.

Half way through the 8-week series and there is still no clear leader with enough races left for a newcomer to win the event. Racing continues next Sunday with the first of two back-to-back races starting at 12 noon.