19 December 2012
Strong south easter, getting up well over 20knots. 10 boats sailed two races in the morning, then were allowed to come ashore for lunch, at 14:00. While it was waited for the wind to abate, the AGM was held. Then further raciing was called for and 8 boats launched after 16:30. Two races were held with the 2nd in a fading wind, coming ashore by 19:30. After 8 races, team Parker leads from Avery / Mare. Then there is a three way tie for third place between Provoyeur / Holm, Laing / Dee and team Gray. Its hoped for at least two races tomorrow, but the forecast is for just a light southerly.
More on the Manfred Hanni trophy - as well as being a keen Fireball sailor, Manfred had a business in the leather industry and made sailing gloves as part of this, more as a service to sailors than really from a profit perspective. When the `wide boat' design came to this country and the `narrow boat' fell into disfavour, he donated the trophy in order to promote Fireball sailing, esp. in the older `narrow' boats, which he used to sail. The Hanni trophy is a glove design, recalling the sailing gloves which he used to make.