As I Saw It (and remembered it!)

It was a disappointing start to the season with only 4 boats making it to the race course. To be fair, two boats lost their crew due to sickness and the forecast leading up to Saturday didn’t look promising – suggesting 20-25 kts. In the end it was 15-18 kts. Very manageable but tough on the body for the first day of the season. 

Brad and Scottie were there with the new boat “Mama says Nothing Good Happens After Midnight” – NGHAM. With Wicko away this week, Patto called up sailing royalty in the form of Rob Brown. Helen’s connections obviously don’t reach that far as she could only rustle up Al Cowen as a substitute for Kristy, who also pulled a sickie. No offence Al, but I don’t think you have an America’s Cup on your CV.  

 Brad and Scottie were blooding a new foredeckie this week (Jake – only his second sail on an Etchells and to make things tougher – only his second sail ever) so they made a prudent decision to add Mitch to the crew for the day. This did put them approx 70kg over weight but no-one had an issue though it was frustrating to watch them sail away up wind especially as the other boats were all underweight with Athena and Waterloo Too both 50kg under on the day. 

Waterloo Too was very lucky to make the start to race 1 in time as they were under the impression it was a 1:40 start (1st warning actually at 1pm) so went up to Wello Point to check it out. Only due to some delays on the committee boat did they make it back in time. One has to wonder if this delay was the royal influence at play!! Patto did try to blame Mark Dingley saying that was the time he told them we were starting. Patto – we haven’t started at that time for years!!!

 With only 4 boats on the line there was plenty of space and everyone got a good clean start. NGHAM and Rapscallion tacked off to the right after the start. Unable to hold with NGHAM they tacked back to the left mid beat and proceeded to have a battle with Waterloo Too up to the top. Meanwhile NGHAM held the right and came in at the top mark 50 mtrs ahead of Rapscallion who rounded just ahead of Waterloo Too. Just a few lengths further back was Athena. 

Rapscallion took a few lengths back on the run but that was the last we saw of NGHAM as the extended away on the beat again to have a very comfortable inaugural win by over a minute. Rapscallion held off W2 to take second with Athena rounding out the top 4!!

Race 2 was a similar affair with NGHAM going right once again. Rapscallion and W2 picked the shifts well on the first beat and rounded the top only a 1/2 dozen lengths behind Brad. At the bottom, Heals and crew had closed to about 4 lengths with Patto just a couple further back. Rapscallion set off after NGHAM. With W2 tacking off to the left, Rapscallion tacked shortly after in order to cover as they were not going to catch Brad by following – especially with reflective transom blinding the crews in the following boats.

By the top the Rappers had extended away from W2 and rounded the top just 4 lengths behind Brad who had dumped on them on the stb layline just before the top mark. These two battled it out on the run with Rapscallion slowly closing. Unfortunately they ran out of runway and NGHAM crossed the line just 4 seconds ahead to take their second bullet of the day. W2 were an easy 3rd. Athena had a shocker on the run wrapping their kite around the forestay which proved not to be very quick. 

The heavy conditions proved a challenge to crew work for the 1st day of the season with all crews being rusty to one degree or another. It will only get better. Thanks to Helen for the post race snacks. Congrats to NGHAM for their first ‘boat of the day’ honours. 

With a better forecast and a Squadron Championship day this weekend we should see a few more boats on the start line – don’t forget to get your season entry in. Regatta Page – entry and other documents

Yours in Etchelling

The Nearly Ancient Mariner

(This author accepts no responsibilities for any inaccuracies, distortions of the truth or outright lies.)