As I saw (and remembered) it – Saturday 15th November

By Kevin Molen

With Dane off this week and Jason still away Mark joined The Saint while Alistair jumped onto the helm of Knot Easy along with Barry who stepped in in Jim’s absence, so it was 7 boats that hit the start line this week.

Race 1 started in a 10kt north easterly with the boat end being preferred. The fleet was soon spread out across the course with the left initially looking strong. It was very much about being in the pressure and by the time the fleet came together at the top those on the right had got back into it. The Saint was leading coming in from the right and were slightly overlaid which allowed Rapscallion to tack just underneath as they entered the zone. Rapscallion had to give room to Waterloo Too who were overlapped to leeward while just up on The Saint’s hip was Knot Easy, so it was four wide as they rounded the top mark. Just a length further back was NGHAM and The Project.

The run saw the fleet spread wide as they all looked to get clear air. A luff from W2 saw a touch of the boom on The Saint and a subsequent pirouette. By the bottom a bit more breeze on the right saw W2 round the LH bottom gate first, followed by Rapscallion and NGHAM while just a few lengths behind Knot Easy, Athena and The Saint rounded the RH mark. Unfortunately, The Project had some kite issues at the top of the run so had been dropped off the back of the fleet.

The final beat saw Waterloo extend from the chasing pack who were spread right across the track. By the time they reached the top W2 had a comfortable lead. The Saint and Athena had found some pressure on the left and The Saint rounded the top a length ahead of Rapscallion who had Athena overlapped to leeward and Knot Easy on their weather hip. NGHAM were still battling to hold onto the back of this group rounding ½ dozen lengths astern.

Downhill, with W2 gone, it was a battle for the minor places. Rapscallion was on the inside close to the rhumb line and across on the other side of the track was The Saint who went to the RH corner. In between were Athena and Knot Easy. Having clear air W2 extended to take the gun by 60 seconds while for the chasing pack it was four abreast coming into the finish. Those on the right having looked buried at one point, coming in at a slighter hotter angle managed to prevail with The Saint grabbing 2nd, Knot Easy 3rd, Athena 4th and Rapscallion 5th. 4 seconds separated these 4 boats with the line bias favouring those on the right. It doesn’t get much closer than that!!! Just a further 5 seconds back was NGHAM.

Race 2 looked to start in similar conditions though 20 seconds before the start the wind went hard left leaving the fleet struggling to lay the line. NGHAM well and truly below the line at the pin end at this point with no other options flopped onto port and crossed the fleet at the pin as the gun went. Rapscallion had to shoot the pin in order to cross the line. Shortly after the fleet had all tacked off onto port with Rapscallion furthest left tacking after a couple of minutes or so and already on the port lay.

As they fleet headed upwind the approaching storm clouds convinced the RC to abandon the race and send us home for an early beer. Unfortunately for The Saint, they couldn’t get their main halyard to release upon returning to the boat harbour. After much discussion W2 was parked alongside The Saint and Will offered to go up W2s rig in order to reach across and unshackle the halyard from the mainsail. Job done and it was time to take the rig out in order to fix it before this weekend fleet champs. If anyone is looking for advice and assistance in rig removal – tap up Mark T – this was his 5th rig out and back in in 5 weeks!! That must be some sort of record!