Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Social Life
May 9th 2008 - First Points Series - Race 6
The evening remained grey following a grey day, when the rest of the country was recording record temperatures for the beginning of May. The race team embarked on Orienteer (John and Pauline Heath’s splendid Malo 39) with Jo Leech as PRO. Sue Holt joined the team as a first timer on the Radio, all assisted by four of the usual race team and two RIB crews.
The wind was from the north with a strong spring flood setting into the Roads as the committee boat anchored just north of Black Rock. Courses were set to send most boats to North Bank with the faster classes doing windward leeward courses and the less swift craft taking triangle courses. All yachts were to finish at the Club line allowing the Vice Commodore was trigger the guns.
The wind was just right in strength at 10 to 12 knots, but with the strong flood the committee boat was riding to the tide and pointing the wrong way. This caused some confusion to a number of boats crews lining up for the start. To minimise the chances of a general recall, a port bias line was set and all the boats warned by radio of the OCS dangers. As the starts proceeded, it was clear that there were two opposing theories on the start. One was to hunt along the line on starboard aiming for the pin at the gun, the other was a cheeky port tack start at the pin end. The latter worked fine providing nobody got the former right. RiffRaff got the starboard tack just right and closed the gap on those 'cheeky port tackers' causing some considerable shouting, and indeed some doubt as to the meaning of the rules. In the end, all got away first time and only one boat was recalled.
Despite following the guidance as to race length for the wind strength, the racers finished in good time after only about one hours racing having been assisted up wind by the strong tide. The Vice Commodore enjoyed the evening by firing off lots of guns to the delight of those lucky enough to have their efforts so rewarded.
The race team plan to spend more time in future on their prayer mats to arrange the same sunshine the rest of the country have.
Remember.
Abandon A/ The wild state a sailor acquires a boat.
B/ The wild state in which a sailor relinquishes a boat.
Jo Leech and Jack Penty
Page last updated
May 10, 2008
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