Light winds, large shifts and aeroplanes were the conditions that dominated the weekend at Datchet Water SC. On arrival there was no water, boats or cars to be seen, but that was because launching was from a platform half way down - which was actually rather useful!! The race officer kicked off Saturdays racing starting the 200s first, but after race 1 and the mele at the first mark, the 4's were first start. Race 1 was the breeziest of the weekend and made for fun mixing with the 200s. The leading three boats were lucky to get past the twos early and this helped them stay ahead. Rob and Liz Jones won race 1, with Sam Parker and Anna Ludgate in 2nd and Paul Allen and Michael Allen in third. Andy Fox and Simon Woods, having missed race 1, dominated the second race to win with a large gap to the rest of the pack. A bit of corner banging on the first beat to find the wind really paid off. Chirs's Rowland and Goswell finished 2nd and Allen/Allen were third. In race three, Andrew and Tom Wilson lead the entire race by some distance, but ran out of wind metres from the finish boat to be pushed into 2nd by Chris and Jill Jordon. Parker/Ludgate were third and Allen/Allen fourth. When the main pack finished it was quite a sight - finish line pile up, with the finishers dropping kites and losing momentum and everyone else piling into the back. There was plenty of on the water agreements about who finished where. We all thought this was it for the day, but power of the people was stopped by the rescue boat - running a 4th race due to a lighter forecast for the next day. Race 4 was increasingly patchy, but with clear wind bands that were there to be caught. Allen/Allen finished first with Jones/Jones and Parker/Ludgate in 2nd and 3rd. Nev and Lou Watson had great speed and were on course to make it a Weston 2/3/4 but got caught on a buoy to leeward of the final windward mark. After racing - a debrief with coach for the day - Steve Dunn. Top tips, practice and look ahead and get your heads out of the boat. Sunday - leaving Southampton at 8am there wasn't a jot of wind, so we had shoppping and sunbathing planned for the day. At Datchet, at the top of the bowl there was a lovely breeze blowing. At water level, there was less wind, but sailable. Race 1 was all about getting into the new wind band first. Allen/Allen sailed in wind consistently to finish first, Paul and Matt Stainsby also had a good race to finish 2nd, with Jones/Jones in third. The second race of the day was in a dieing breeze, however there was one semi-planing style gust - Parker/Ludgate almost demonstrating how to capsize... Allen/Allen won the race by metres from Parker/Ludgate with Andrew and Tom Wilson sailing well to finish 3rd. The last race of the weekend was the closest race of all, with the top 10 boats finishing within seconds of each other. There were great lifts off the wall on the starboard side, but more wind in the middle and getting the right mix was vital. Andy Fox and and Simon Woods got it very right and finished first, with Caroline Exley and Jude Pryde finishing second and Rowland/Goswell 3rd. Leigh and Lowton won the team prize - a club training day, with Weston snapping closely at their heels. Allen/Allen were first overall - hope to see that new jib they won on the circuit next year, Parker/Ludgate were 2nd winning free entry to next years nationals (the boat won't be sold then) and Jones/Jones were third winning a private coaching session.