Latest Sailing News
Published 10:49 on 12 May 2021
Monday Dinghy RacingThe author was very much looking forward to reporting on what an enjoyable evening afloat felt like, chasing a variety of dinghies in the pursuit fleet, after weeks where racing wasn't possible due to lack of the essential ingredient - wind. Frustratingly, however, there are once again no results to talk about as the weather gods delivered rather too much wind on this occasion. Hopes that the forecast might be over-stated were dashed as the race officer decided that conditions were not consistent with the RYA guidelines for safe sailing while we are still under Covid restrictions. To rub salt in the wound, conditions 2 hours later would have been ideal! Nevertheless, otherwise idle hands took the opportunity to rig a number of the club boats in order to apply some essential maintenance before retiring to pack "The Bilges" and take advantage of Lee's sailing suppers. |
Coastal Yacht RacesIt seems that weather is the dominant feature of these sailing newsletters so far this year and so it proved once again as the latest spell to cross our shores, with predicted gusts in excess of 50mph, put paid to the first of BYC's coastal races - 'The Skerries' -on Saturday. In turn, RDYC abandoned their attempt to run the 'Gallon of Rum' race on the following day, becoming the second event in the Torbay and Dart Combined Coastal Series (TADCCS) to suffer that fate. Both clubs have decided to re-schedule these events for the coming weekend. |
Thursday Yacht Series 1 Race 5
It was a beautiful evening for the yacht fleet out on the water. The clear blue sky attracted 12 boats out for an anticipated 'drift' around the marks, who were rudely joined during the starting sequence by two fishing boats ploughing through the fleet!
Once again, however, the wind was much stronger than forecast, gusty at times, making a lively, close and exciting race. Fleet 1 -8 boats - flew around 3 laps, and the remaining 4 boats in Fleet 2 completed 2 laps.
Those skippers competent in the 'Dark Art of Spinnaker Flying' (an expression stolen from our lovely Vice-Commodore, Sacha Hagar) were truly at an advantage on the downwind legs, leaving the other mere-mortals white-sailing and fighting to retain or regain positions on the windward legs!There were some close calls at the marks, much heeling over, but thankfully few Captain-Pugwash-style waves. The 'heeling over' led to flying cutlery drawers, teapots and kettles in one boat (which shall remain nameless), but I guess that will leave the author as a contender for the Wooden Spoon at the next Presentation evening for not securing below decks!
"A Piano" took line honours in Fleet 2 and was also the winner ahead of "Sighiri" and "Kabouter".
First two boats across the line in Fleet 1 were "Oxygen" and "Xeta" in a little over 1hour 1minute but "Ocean Wave" emerged first on corrected time ahead of "Glance" and "Oxygen".
The IRC fleet result also placed "Ocean Wave" at the top of the podium ahead of "Glance" and "Peanut".
Full results on the website.
Last updated 16:27 on 28 October 2023
