February 05, 2026

As I Saw It (and remembered it!)

Saturday, 31st January 2026

How good was that!!! Another great day of Etchells racing.

We had 8 boats hit the water, the only one missing was Aspen who looks to be out for a while. Middle man Mark is out for the season after tearing his hamstring from the bone prior to Xmas. This is the risk of doing work in the garden – much safer to be sailing!!

Race 1 started in a 12 kt sou-easter with the fleet spread out along the line. The Saint at the pin headed left along with Rapscallion and Knot Easy. The remainer of the fleet headed right off the line. Happy Hour seemed to get discombobulated just prior to the start and crossed the line 3-4 lengths behind. The fleet was soon spread across the course.

At the top just out from the mark, we saw NGHAM hit the stb layline with Rapscallion just astern. Coming in from the left and tacking just in front was Knot Easy. Just as they were a length from the mark in came The Saint on the port lay. Thinking they didn’t have space to complete a tack on the mark they tried to cross Knot Easy and only succeeded in forcing Knot Easy to luff up which cascaded back to NGHAM and Rapscallion. Once The Saint was clear, Knot Easy was as able to bear away to lead around the offset followed by NGHAM on their heels. Rapscallion was next with Waterloo Too right behind and having benefited from the top mark kerfuffle. A short distance back was The Project, Athena and Happy Hour, The Saint completed their turns and joined just in front of the Project. Thanks Spikey Mikey for the video evidence.

The run saw boats dispersed across the course with Waterloo Too winning the left and leading Rapscallion around the left gate while simultaneously Knot Easy lead NGHAM around the right gate.

On the beat the fleet was spread far and wide and at the top Waterloo Too lead by half a dozen lengths from NGHAM and Rapscallion. Knot Easy has missed a shift or two and were dropped from the leading pack but held on to be 4^th around followed by The Saint, The Project, Happy Hour and Athena.

The leaders gybed onto port for the run and by the time they approached the final gate mark for the left turn into the finish, Rapscallion had drawn level with NGHAM, holding the inside line for the finish and was just a few feet astern of Waterloo Too. With no opportunity to sail over or through W2, Rapscallion delayed their gybe to ensure they could hold off NGHAM which they did finishing a length behind W2 and just 1 second ahead of NGHAM. Knot Easy held off a fast-finishing The Saint to hold on for 4^th.

Race 2 saw a slight drop in the breeze but still holding in at around 10kts. Once again, the fleet was spread across the track with no real advantage to either side but pressure lines providing the advantage one way or another. By mid beat, in the middle of the course The Project looked to be leading with W2 on the right also looking good. By the top there was nothing separating the fleet. W2 managed to be first around with The Project right there. Close behind was Knot Easy and Rapscallion. Just a length back was The Saint with the rest of the fleet right on their transom.

The fleet was soon spread across the bay and by the bottom, W2 lead around the left gate a couple of lengths ahead of Rapscallion with Knot Easy a couple of lengths further back while The Project lead The Saint and NHGAM around the right gate.

At the top, W2 had held onto their lead but Knot Easy who had gone hard left came into the mark just 2-3 lengths behind W2. Next at the top was The Project but they overlayed by a length or two allowing Rapscallion to tack underneath and round 3^rd. Rounding just behind The Project were The Saint and Happy Hour.

By the bottom W2 had a comfortable lead to finish 4-5 lengths to take their second gun of the day. Rapscallion has caught Knot Easy but ran out of runway to finish in 3^rd by ½ a length. Right behind and as they approached the final gybe mark into the finish The Project was fighting off The Saint while NGHAM was casting an ominous shadow on the two in front. As The Project and The Saint were locked in a battle and struggling for air NGHAM sailed over the top to grab 4^th. The Project held off the Saint for 5^th. Just behind The Saint was Happy Hour, just 2 seconds ahead of Athena.

This race was so close that only 48 seconds separated the 8 boats at the finish. It’s a reflection of how close all the fleet are now and why it provides such good racing week after week.

The day was rounded out with the christening of the new shade sail at the hard stand.

Boat of the day award goes to Waterloo Too for their two bullets.