As I saw (and remembered) it – Saturday 7th March

After last weeks abandoned racing, it was great to get back out on the water for a Squadron Championship day. We had 6 boats hit the water this week. Happy Hour was out, as was The Project who pulled a sickie!! With Kristie sailing in the women’s keel boat regatta Al stepped on board while Remko took the helm of Knot Easy in Jason’s absence.

Race 1 started in 12-14 kts from the SE. With only 6 boats on the line everyone got away to clean start and was soon spread across the course. Rapscallion, W2 and NGHAM sailing the middle left traded tacks and positions up the first beat.  At the top it was NGHAM first around followed by Rapscallion, W2, The Saint, Athena and Knot Easy.

The run saw the 3 leading boats take the right gate, a harried drop on NGHAM midnight saw the pole dragging in the water as they continued the clean up once around. This allowed the Rappers to close to within a length.

Up the second beat there was still nothing between the leading 3 who continued to keep it tight. W2 and NGHAM had a close call in one tack leading to a subsequent protest from W2. Both on port crossed ahead of Rapscallion ¾ the way up the beat and continued right. The Rappers kept playing the shifts working left and rounded the top for the last time 3-4 lengths ahead of NGHAM who has similar gap to W2. At some point The Saint broke their boom putting an end to their day.

The final run didn’t present any passing opportunities, so we saw Rapscallion take the first gun of the day followed by NGHAM, W2, Athena and Knot Easy who had had some issues with their kite halyard for much of the race.

Race 2 was started in similar conditions with the breeze steady at around 15kts.

Once again it was a clean start and with neither side obviously favoured it was a matter of playing the shifts. While 4 went up the middle of the course Knot Easy went hard right which unfortunately didn’t pay. By the top mark the first 3 rounded line astern with NGHAM leading from W2 and Rapscallion. 7-8 lengths back was Anthena comfortably ahead of Knot Easy.

At the bottom both NGHAM and W2 took the left gate and headed right while Rapscallion and Anthena took the less favoured right mark and headed back up the middle of the course. By the time the top 3 came back together on the layline at the top Rapscallion tacked to leeward and just 2 lengths behind NGHAM and 3-4 ahead of W2.

The run saw Rapscallion close slightly on NGHAM but not enough to seriously challenge on the last bit into the finish giving NGHAM the bullet for the second race of the day with W2 3^rd. Athena was 4^th with Knot Easy rounding out the reduced fleet.

The day rounded out with snags back at the hard stand. Thanks to The Saint for having this all up and running by the time the rest of us were back.

So, what was the protest result: thrown out on a technicality!! Apparently you need to display a protest flag – who would have though!!!

It is a pity as it would have been an interesting one to see how the jury would have ruled!!

Boat of the day honours shared between Rapscallion and NGHAM.

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