WINDS gusting five to six spelled big trouble for the five bold Arden club dinghy racers competing in the annual Icicle Race on the Avon at Defford.
Enterprise helms, Stuart Stephen and Jeremy Griffiths, made an early fist of it after a distracting clash on the start line, and then by failing to cope with a challenging malevolent wind, that wobbled both boats and crews about in spectacular fashion before flipping them over and out!
From adversity comes opportunity - but shortlived for the GP14 sailed by David and Pauline Appleby that initially took off in a fine plume of spray. Alas, a full-frontal blast and resultant capsize changed all that.
Ralph Evans with new crew Alan Browning took a full lap of the course before nose-diving his Enterprise in the throes of a dramatic shift in wind direction and taking race ending damage to steering gear.
Late stager veterans Alan Salerman and Ray Trace in the remaining GP14 with the river all to themselves, plugged on resolutely to complete the course and to be assured of the Brass Monkey Trophy for 2005.
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