Saturday saw our second combined race of the season with our neighbors at Martha Cove Yacht Squadron and Safety Beach Sailing Club. Unfortunately, the first race was abandoned due to poor weather, but that has been the story of this season to date. So, the mood was high amongst the 27-boat fleet when we found the center course bathed in sunshine and calm conditions.
Unfortunately, the calm conditions didn’t continue and after 2 attempts the fleet got underway in a freshening southerly that quickly built to 20kts plus. The start sequence seemed to surprise most skippers with many boats changing down sails and changing gears for the increasing wind strength. I don’t think I have ever seen a fleet that looked so disorganized at the start, with boats heading everywhere on the start line. The fleet soon settled down and headed for the top mark. The windward legs saw many close calls and near misses and a least one non-miss, who knew sailing was a contact sport. The mix of big boats and smaller boats in the fleet saw some tests of nerve, with Beau Brummell hailing the biggest boat in the fleet - Vincitore. It took several loud hails and possibly a ruptured tonsil to force the issue. The choppy conditions to windward were soon forgotten once boats put their kites up and enjoyed the ride. Each down wind leg seemed to bring stronger winds and the ride under spinnaker became a nerve-racking roller coaster ride by the last downwind leg. For some of us we were lucky to see what a great spectator sport sailing can be, with Morticia executing the broach of the year not once, but twice on the same leg. I think we saw a mast just touch the top of a wave as the boat laid over. I will never forget the image of several sets of fingers clinging over the gunnel, whilst the invisible crew attached to those fingers were suspended, unseen to us waiting for the boat to right itself. As Morticia and her crew re-gathered their senses and sailed on they left behind a trail of foaming debris from cockpit – cans, stubby holders, course sheets, sense of adventure, confidence, etc. Mind you Morticia’s mis-adventure certainly made the task of convincing the Mixed Nuts team to hoist a spinnaker that much harder.
It was great to hear the buzz on the deck post-race. There were plenty of stories being shared over very well-earned beers. Clubs are great places to celebrate together, and days like last Saturday create a shared experience that over time binds us all together as crews, sailors and friends.
Line Honours
Division 1 : Javelin
Division 2 : Arabelle
Division 3 : Dark Side of the Moon
Handicap Results
Division 1
- Apache: Michael Daddo
- Anna: Roly & Andrew de Lange
- Pale and Stout: Mathew Hazelwinkle
Division 2
- Arabelle: B. Levenspiel & G. Hailes
- Tonic: Ray Harvey
- YT2: Stuart Gooley
- Dark Side of the Moon: Steve Bolton
- Tub Thumper: G. Heard & A. Creed
- Himalayen Women: Paul Dynes
AMS Results
Division 1
- Apache: Michael Daddo
- Morticia : McDonald, Kurz & Alexander
- Javelin : Mark Nicholson
- Arabelle: B. Levenspiel & G. Hailes
- YT2: Stuart Gooley
- Tonic: Ray Harvey
CBH Results
Division 3
- Dark Side of the Moon: Steve Bolton
- Himalayen Women: Paul Dynes
- Magic Pudding : Phillip Mannes
Div 3- Class Captain