INITIALLY, the weather for race 4 in Saltash's last Summer Series was not very inviting at all with rain in varying degrees from gentle showers to heavy downpours.

The one saving grave was that there was at least some wind from a south to southeasterly direction force 3 to 4. Although the weather did brighten up considerably, unfortunately for those that ventured out onto the water, this change in the weather brought much lighter winds, force 0 to 1 at best. With a strong incoming tide this made getting to the first mark down river increasingly difficult as the wind dropped.

The ICR boats, starting just before the wind dropped had the best chance of making it down river but for the PYA and PYB boats things became increasingly difficult with many boats taking several minutes to make it even as far as the start line with one or two boats being carried up river nearly as far as Bridges.

The course was Hamoaze, Lyhner, North Skinham for IRC and PYA and for PYB it was Hamoaze, Trots, Brunel Green. First off the line in each class were Jazz (Stephen Hills) in IRC, Chancer (Martin Watts) in PYA and Strelizia (Mike Anning) very closely followed by Nein Nein Fraulein (Paul Ormsby) in PYB. Despite the lack of wind and having to battle against the continuing incoming tide, most of the 14 boats taking part in the race made it round the course which was considerably shortened for obvious reasons.

Whilst the race was going on however, there was another incident which occupied many of the SSC members who were not taking part. Confucius (Dave Oliver) had big problems trying to free himself from his sunken mooring and after deciding to cut the stern mooring lines he inadvertently got the prop caught up in the chain attached to the fore mooring buoy.

After much tooing and froing, it was decided that in order to lift the stern further out of the water Dave required the help of several members of the club (the final count was 14!) on the bow. Ably assisted by Marcus Anderson and his son Tom in one of the club's rescue boats and after Rob Clark (one of Confucius' crew) helped by practising his diving skills, the boat was eventually freed.

Results: SSC Thursday Third Series: 2000: IRCA Race 4 - Jazz (Stephen Hills) 1:05:38; Hello (Gerry Smith) 1:06:53; Growler (Bill Caldwell) 1:09:52; Firestorm Too (Paul Radgick) 1:13:18. PYA Race 4 - Evening Storm (Bill Brimble) 1:17:46; Jabberwooky (Brian Cann) 1:22:37; Chancer (Martin Watts) 1:25:01; West End Girl (Simon Keeble) 1:58:51. PYB Race 4 - Nein Nein Fraulein (Paul Ormsby); Strelizia (Mike Anning); Miranda (Russell Curry).