It was sunny and in the sun we felt warmer than the forecast 9°, but on the other hand the 
wind tore down from the far end of the Lake making white streaks and breaking over the 
pontoon. Force 6 was the best guess. Nathan Pollard was in two minds about preparing his 
4.7. Vicki Duncalf unwrapped her Topper then wrapped it up again. Adam Hilton, Sally Wills 
and John Dabbs professed themselves willing to go out in the Bosun with Otter sails; so did 
Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert. But Bob Sampson and Roger Heasman, who'd drawn the 
short safety boat straw, were pretty doubtful of their ability to save people in this wind and 
with water this cold. It was agreed that we'd have lunch and then reconsider. After lunch the 
safety men took the Jaffa up to Pinky and declared the middle of the Lake more sailable than 
they had thought, so a one o'clock start was agreed upon. However when the 
Hilton/Dabbs/Wills party actually started raising sails on the pontoon and the wind tore them 
out of their hands, they decided to give up. Pollard/Gilbert followed suit. Nathan P, however, 
intrepidity personified, took the 4.7 on the water and shot across the Lake and back a few 
times under the close supervision of the safety boat. Elliot Pomeroy, assisted by Robin Spiller 
(who'd had the sense to see that it was too windy from the moment he arrived at the Lake) 
stood by, all prepared to OOD, while all this dithering went on. Thanks to them and especially 
to Bob and Roger.