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Autumn Series, Race 6 - Fast Handicap Report

Published 15:38 on 8 Oct 2023

The exceptional October weather set the perfect backdrop for the 6th edition of the Fast Handicap Autumn series.

A mixture of eight teams arrived at the start to tackle the course 1-7-1-3 set by expert race team Graham and Fiona Cranford-Smith.

The mixed fleet quickly settled into their natural running order up the first beat, with the faster 505 and RS400 taking the lead, rounding mark 1. Andrew and Sheila Squire in the Albacore would follow next, with John and Frankie Burn in Y170 leading the yawls out.

As the fleet hugged the Portlemouth shore on the long downwind leg to mark 7, Andrew and Elizabeth Savell in Y187 worked their way past John and Frankie and led the closely fought yawl contingent through the bag and again on the return leg.

As they reached Snapes Point, John and Frankie took a slightly higher line than the Savell's, which resulted in them regaining the lead. The father-and-son team now appeared in the groove as they made their way through the main harbour and pulled clear of the chasing yawls.

John and Frankie continued to stretch their advantage for the remainder of the race, and once the handicaps had been applied, emerged victorious, racking up their second win of the series.