As I Saw It (and remembered it!)

Saturday, 5 April 25

We were back  on the water after a week off due to racing being call off last week, which I think everyone would agree was a good call, as it would not have been very pleasant sailing in the nonstop rain.

This week’s conditions were much more conducive to sailing with bright sunshine and 7-8 knots from the ENE. We had 7 boats hit the start line. After a short delay as the wind settled in direction (sort of) we got away. Brad and the Aspen crew managed a port tack start half way down the line crossing Rapscallion who had started at the boat by a boat length though they were a little slow off the line as they made sure of pinning Waterloo Too out from the boat. These 3 boats all headed off to the right which appeared to be the favoured side. On the left were The Saint (sans Marty), The Project, Athena and Bludging Blindside. ½ way up the beat the breeze flicked left and Dave, Sophie and Fiona on The Saint as furthest left boat took full advantage to have at least a 10 length lead at the top. The three on the right were trading positions and a little left hander at the top allowed Waterloo Too to sneak around just ahead of Rapscallion who had Aspen right on their transom. Around ½ dozen lengths further back were The Project ahead of Athena and Bludging.

With the Saint well gone it was going to be a battle for the minor positions. Rapscallion gybed off looking for the left hand gate at the bottom while Waterloo Too and Aspen fought for the right mark. The new kite on Aspen paid off allowing them to get just ahead of W2 at the bottom. Patto tried to put his snout on the inside as the rounded only for Brad to offer some advice as he the shut the door on them forcing W2 to the weather side of the mark. At this point as they did a pirouette to get back round the mark they decided they may as well  pick up Will’s $6 Bunnings hat that had been knocked overboard in the previous exchange. Meanwhile, The Project rounded ahead of Waterloo Too. At the other end of the gate Rapscallion rounded simultaneously as Aspen.

The second beat saw Aspen on the left and Rapscallion on the right. At the top Aspen rounded a length ahead of Rapscallion. Patto had managed to get past Gary and the Project team but wasn’t able to reduce the margin they had lost at the bottom. The Project had extended comfortably on Athena and Bludging by this stage.

On the run Aspen sailed high while Rapscallion sailed the rhumb line. They met at the bottom gate with Aspen just ahead though there was some discussion as to whether the Rappers had an overlap. Aspen managed to hold them off on the final sprint to the line to grab a distant second. The Saint taking the gun showed just how well the boat goes without Marty on it!! 😊

W2 was 4^th with The Project 5^th, Athena 6^th and Bludging Blindside tail end Charlie.

The conditions for race 2 were similar to race 1. This start saw Rapscallion at the pin with W2 above them. A left hand shift in the final 30 sec saw them struggling to get up to the line. Up the beat W2 went furthest left and found the same shift The Saint did in race one. I cant believe it was still there. They had a 6-7 length lead at the top. As the remainder of the fleet converged on the mark The Saint rounded in second with Rapscallion on their transom. The Saint had left enough round for Aspen to tack underneath and round simultaneously with Rapscallion. Just a few lengths further back were Anthena and The Project.

As in race 1, the leader got away on the run not to be seen for the rest of the race so the battle was for the minor places. Aspen gyped off to the left looking for more pressure while The Saint and Rapscallion sailed towards the right hand gate. Aspen’s move paid off and they rounded the left gate in 2^nd. At the right hand mark, it was at this point that The Saint realised that they were a crewman down on their usual numbers and rounded the mark with the kite still coming down and the jib not up. This allowed Rapscallion get inside as they set off up wind. A change of course saw the top mark move to the left though Aspen on the right managed to keep The Saint and Rapscallion at bay to be a comfortable 2^nd at the final top mark of the day. The Saint managed to round 3^rd just a length ahead of Rapscallion.

Rapscallion wineglassed their kite on the hoist and the lightweight crew on The Saint wriggled free to comfortably finish in 3^rd. W2 had maintained their handy lead to take the gun with Aspen scoring their second second of the day. Athena held off The Project to claim 5^th by just 4 seconds.

Another great day of racing. Great to see 2 of the boats having majority female crews (Athena & The Saint). Boat of the day honours shared by The Saint and Aspen.

See you all next week.

Yours in Etchelling

The Nearly Ancient Mariner

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