| Race Reports | ||||||||||
| Race report to follow. Race cancelled due to weather conditions. Race cancelled due to weather conditions.
With a perfect summer's evening and a good NW breeze the scene was set for a great evenings sail in the WHSC One Design Series racing.
Race report not available at this time. No race was conducted on this date due to the PPSA Regatta taking place this week.
A perfect windward leeward course from Deadmans Bay to Melampus with a strong SW wind provided ideal conditions for the WHSC one design racing on Thursday evening.
Race report not available at this time.
Course: Dunstone (S), NE Winter (S), Deadman Bay (S) In the Squibs, starting from the leeward end of the line but moving very quickly White Magic (David Wines) managed to squeeze up to get her nose in front before turning for the reach out to Dunstone. Rounding the end of Mount Batten breakwater Ruby(Kim Vasey) slipped down the rankings as she took a 720 penalty turn following an incident with an inside overlapped boat. The windward leg offered her opportunity to come back and taking some bold moves on wind shifts rather than the conventional wisdom of following the tide saw Ruby back in contention. Bootneck(Mark Heseltine) suffered a broken shroud in the blustery conditions and retired unable to continue racing. Reaching back to Dead mans bay with spinnakers just holding saw Echo(John Barton) and B of the Bang(Paul Hardy) in a tight duel with Echo just ahead by half a length ahead. Both crews were so engrossed they both mistook the signals ashore believing they had finished only to see White Magic, Ruby and Purfling(Nigel Harris) setting off on a third round! Again the windward leg provided opportunity for some tactical moves but White Magic secure a comfortable first and Ruby in well deserved second.
In the Trapper 300s Patsy (Gary Wilcox) stamped authority on this race from the gun being to windward and just behind the line as the starting signal sounded, while Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) conceded that she had been premature and had to return before starting again, leaving Barecat (James Green) to challenge the latest fleet leader over the first leg. La Strega (David Green) found herself in third place once again, pursued by Madlen (Peter Kersey) and Spytrapper, while Carlyle Bay Dave Merritt) who'd been delayed in reaching the start, brought up the rear. Patsy resisted the challenge from Barecat to turn the first mark ahead by two boat lengths and then extended that lead over the first beat, while Barecat tacked on what turned out to be a false lift; meanwhile Spytrapper had regained third place by hoisting her spinnaker on the run to the first mark while Madlen and La Strega failed to get their kites up again and by the time the three leading boats had turned the second mark, Spytrapper had also taken second place, ahead of her close rival.The ding-dong battle continued down the run back to Deadman's Buoy, with Barecat stealing Spytrapper's wind and then passing to windward, but in a classically opportunistic move, Madlen, who had dropped to leeward, found a breeze clear of the Citadel's wind shadow and stormed under both boats' lee to turn the mark in second place! Barecat squandered her advantage in dropping her spinnaker far too early and Spytrapper pulled through to turn the mark behind Madlen.The second lap saw Patsy reveling in the freedom of her lead, while Madlen lost her wind to both Spytrapper and Barecat on what was now a short beat to clear Mount Batten Breakwater and then a tense spinnaker run saw Barecat's stemhead fitting edging level with but never ahead of Spytrapper's transom and upon turning the leeward mark, Barecat's No.2 genoa proved to be inadequate against Spytrapper's No.1 in the dropping breeze.
Course: Asia (P), Melampus (P), Deadman Bay (S) A temporary calm in the wind coincided with the one minute preparatory signal for the Trapper 300's, causing the fleet to bunch up, with at least two boats actually facing away from the line in an effort to stem the tide's ebb flow. Pasty (Gary Wilcox) was one of these and had lost all steerage by the time the starting signal blew, leaving her sixth while Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) and Barecat (James Green) made the best of the fluky airs and led away. These two boats managed to lift to windward of the main body of the fleet, seeing them able to reach the Asia buoy on one tack, while the rest had to tack at least once to make the same objective. Barecat hardened up around the buoy first with Spytrapper, followed by La Strega (Dave Green), Carlyle Bay (David Merritt), Madlen (Peter Kersey) and Patsy. By now the boats were enjoying 10 knots of breeze and the wind was veering, so after closing Drakes Island, the leaders tacked and laid the second mark with the ebb tide under their bows and a lifting breeze. Barecat had achieved too great a lead for Spytrapper to close the gap on the run home, but La Strega, having hoisted her kite luffed above Madlen and looked to have achieved her best result to date until the breeze faltered at the Mount Batten breakwater only to fill in from the opposite side down the Cattewater, putting Carlyle Bay and Madlen to windward of the challenger and those to boats finished in that order with just seventeen seconds between them, while Patsy added to La Strega's chagrin by taking fifth place. Meanwhile away at the Squib National Championships at Weymouth the WHSC was represented by 6 boats with David Wines in White Magic finishing at 15th from a fleet of 108. Nearer to home Calvados (Keith Woodgate) took first place in group 4 of the Yealm Yacht Club RNLI Passage Race.
Results With a brisk E wind the WHSC Thursday evening competitors were faced with a running start, never easy to judge. First away were the Charisma/Foxterrier class which saw the welcomed return of MJ2(Howard Irons) and he quickly established his presence by building up a good lead in the reach out to Melampus and the beat across to Dunstone. Calvados(Keith Woodgate) and Foxtrot(Nigel Gray) were in close quarters for these two legs and the return via NW Winter to Deadmans Bay. On the way out of the Cattewater Calvados's spinnaker work let her down and Foxtrot forged ahead closing on MJ2. On the beat across to Dunstone Foxtrot took the northerly route and by Dunstone was narrowly in the lead. On the third round the wind backed to the South and dropped leaving Foxtrot with a narrow lead but a spinnaker tangle on the gybe around NW Winter by MJ2 ended her challenge for the lead. With most of the Squib fleet packing up for depature to the Nationals there were only two Squibs competing. However they had a close and challenging race which saw Echo(John Barton) lead B of the Bang (Paul Hardy) across the finishing line by about two boat lengths The south-easterly wind instigated a tight start, with all six Trappers hoisting their spinnakers on the gun. Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) with her smallest spinnaker weathered a gust just ahead of Barecat (James Green) who broached, lost control and rounded up to windward, letting Betty Blue (Ian Cload) and Patsy (Gary Wilcox) pass through astern, Carlyle Bay (David Merritt) was close on her transom before Barecat was in the running again, with La Straga (David Green) close behind too having put her smallest of small spinnakers up. While the leaders fell away to leeward and down tide, Barecat and Carlyle Bay were climbing and gaining to windward, making for a tight rounding of the first mark with a close fleet. Spytrapper at the head of the fleet made the best of the beat to the Dunstone Buoy, with Betty Blue and Patsy remaining in touch. Down the next spinnaker run to the third buoy the four leading boats pulled out a collective lead, but with Barecat having to fight hard to hang on and after turning the buoy wide she had a very tight beat, just skimming the Queen Anne's Battery breakwater and foreshore to remain in contention. On the first reach of the second lap, Spytrapper asserted a little more authority over Betty Blue and set her bigger spinnaker, but Patsy and Barecat were still within fighting distance of the second place. The windward leg toward Dunstone Buoy for the second time saw the wind veer toward the south, freeing Barecat who had elected to press on toward the southern side of the beat on port tack and lifting her in a constant curve above Patsy to be ahead by 50 metres at the buoy. As the wind continued to veer it looked as if the following boats might catch Spytrapper but then, in the Cattewater the wind headed the fleet and her victory was assured.
Results Course: W. Mallard (P), Dunstone (S), Melampus (S), Deadman bay (S) The WHSC Thursday Evening Series were set a course to S Winter then across to Dunstone returning to Deadmans Bay via Melampus with the brisk W wind providing two good beats and a long run for the 16 yachts racing. Further challenges to the racing were set by the arrival of a frigate and the Brittany Ferry both of which crossed the racing course and necessitated some disruption to the racing. In the Charisma/Foxterriers Calvados(Keith Woodgate) stole the lead at the start catching Foxtrot(Nigel Grey) on starboard and the two boats had a close tacking dual out to S.Winter. Calvados then overstood the mark allowing Foxtrot to sail through at take the lead at the first mark. The race then opened out with Foxtrot followed by Calvados and Blacksocks(Jeff Barlow) bringing up the rear. Foxtrot gained further advantage when for the second week she managed to get across in front of an incoming frigate whilst the other two yachts had to stand off. Calvados was then further delayed by the incoming ferry but still managed to hold off Blacksocks to take second position Seven Squibs fought for position on the starting line and following a gentle tussle with B of the Bang (Paul Hardy) on the stating line, White Magic(David Wines) quickly established a dominant leading position. Kim Vasey in Ruby and John Lewis in Bootneck were both sailing very quickly. Bootneck was sporting a very smart set of new sails including a spinnaker of many colours but this was not enough to hold back Kim who took second place. The course included a superb windward leg between Dunstone and Melampus follow by a good long down wind leg to Dead Mans Bay. With the wind oscillating through 20 degrees there were plenty of opportunities for gaining and loosing a few places. Unfortunately, the untimely arrival of Brittany Ferries at the windward mark on the second round caused momentary disruption to the back half of the fleet but this disruption was overcome during the third and final round. Six Trapper 300s came to the line, with new fleet member Betty Blue (Ian Cload) and Barecat (James Green) over the line at the gun. Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) built up a good head of steam and converted her momentum into a good lead, with Patsy (Gary Wilcox) and Carlyle Bay (Dave Merritt) following through on starboard tack, while the miscreants retraced their steps. Once again La Strega (Dave Green) failed to take advantage and crossed the line in sixth place. Carlyle Bay was overhauled by Barecat and Betty Blue before the end of the Mount Batten breakwater and Betty Blue managed to turn the windward mark in third place behind Patsy, with Spytrapper having already pulled out a commanding lead and it was only she that hoisted her spinnaker on a shy reach to the second mark. The spinnaker cost her time and Patsy, Betty Blue and Barecat were closing the gap rapidly. On the second beat, to the Melampus buoy Barecat's choice of a No.2 genoa proved a bad one, leaving the other three contenders at the head of the fleet to hoist spinnakers for the run through the start/finish line, but the order didn't change until the end of the second beat. Spytrapper, having been forced to tack, fell into a hole in the wind and Betty Blue needed no second bidding to take up the lead. She turned the windward mark ahead and led the race thereafter.
Results With a south westerly wind the competitors in WHSC Thursday Evening Series were set a course with a beat to S Winter and two close reaches and a run back to Deadmans Bay rounding Dustone on the way. In the Charisma/Foxterriers Black socks (Jeff Barlow) got off to a cracking start but was soon overhauled on the beat by Foxtrot (Nigel Grey) and Calvados (Keith Woodgate). Calvados hung onto Foxtrot on the beat but encountered several spinnaker problems particularly on the gybe at Dunstone and rapidly lost out, more crew training required! Foxtrot further increased her lead as Calvados was stood off to allow a frigate to pass whilst Blacksocks brought up the rear. The six starters in the Squib fleet enjoyed great close quarter short tacking as they ducked and weaved out of the constraints of Cattewater with Purfling(Norman Harris) showing great speed following a weekend of adjustments to his rig set up. The tight starboard reach to tight port reach gybe at Dunstone proved a difficult manoeuvre in the stiff breeze with crews struggling to maintain control of their spinnakers. White Magic(David Wines) led the way clawing up to pass the end of Batten breakwater. A further challenge lay ahead just off the club line in the form of a disable trawler under attendance by the Plymouth lifeboat! By the start of the second leg the rankings were:White Magic in the lead, followed by B of the Bang(Paul Hardy) and Archimedes with Echo, Purfling, and Ruby chasing hard. At the windward mark Echo (John Barton) had moved up into second place and Archimedes had retired due to the untimely arrival of a German frigate! During the third round Purflings chances of a placing were finally thwarted by an unfortunate spinnaker drop; under the keel! White Magic took the line followed by Echo and B of the Bang third. Six Trapper 300s came to the line with Barecat (James Green) spoiling the well rehearsed plans of Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) and La Strega (David Green) of starting on port tack from the favoured end. Having thrown the windward boats into disarray she tacked on the gun and came out in prime position, with Carlyle Bay (David Merritt) and Patsy (Gary Wilcox) well astern and to leeward, with Madlen (Peter Kearsey) slipping over ahead of La Strega too. The first beat saw the fleet having to divide to accommodate a fishing vessel being towed, with Barecat and Spytrapper hogging the windward side close under the Mount Batten breakwater and avoiding the making tide. Patsy asserted her authority on the rest of the fleet to turn the first mark in third place, but elected not to hoist her spinnaker on the reach to the Dunstone Buoy and so the gap temporarily widened. At Dunstone the two leaders struggled to tame their spinnakers through the gybe, with Barecat deciding to strike her nylon before Spytrapper and thereby stealing the lead back again - just in time to defend her position from Patsy who had benefitted from a smooth rounding without her kite. Madlen smoothly turned inside Carlyle Bay and was now in fourth place. The turn around the end of Mount Batten breakwater saw feverish activity in hoisting spinnakers on the leading boats again and this time Patsy elected to join in but was slow in getting the sail set and her challenge was spent. So it was that Barecat, followed by Spytrapper and Patsy started the second lap ahead of Madlen, Carlyle Bay and La Strega. Spytrapper was pointing well and footing faster now with her new No.1 genoa against Barecat and her No.2 and deficit was recovered three quarters of the way up the beat, with Spytrapper turning the mark 30m ahead of Barecat who lost more valuable time during a wipe out of a broach on the spinnaker reach. Neither boat attempted to gybe their spinnaker at Dunstone Buoy this time around and the finishing positions had been established.
Results With a south easterly wind and an ebbing tide in the Cattewater the competitors in WHSC Thursday Evening Series were faced with a running start on a course our to S Winter and back to Deadmans Bay, a course which wind changes reduced to a run and a reach for the final round. Despite being the sole representative of its class Calvados (Keith Woodgate) managed to cross the line before the start and had to return to the line . The Trapper fleet was joined by a new member, Ian Cload in Betty Blue and he quickly established that he was a competitor to be reckoned with. He led the fleet away from the starting line and was still in a narrow lead over Barecat (James Green) at the end of the first round. However Barecat's better performance with the spinnaker gradually closed the gap and opened up a lead by the end of the second round. Meanwhile further back in the fleet Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) and Patsy (Gary Wilcox) enjoyed some close racing but it was always Patsy that managed to keep ahead. For round three the race order had been established with Barecat and Betty Blue still being in close contention but Barecat held her lead over the line. Seven squibs crossed the start line with spinnakers set. Bootneck (John Lewis) led with impeccable line timing, but was soon to be overhauled to windward by Echo (John Barton) on passing Batten Breakwater. Meanwhile the boats further inshore were suffering badly from slightly lighter wind conditions. Tidal conditions were reversed as the fleet hit the ebbing tide of the Tamar, and rounding of Asia require careful timing at the gybe. Now beating back to Deadmans bay Echo still held her lead but with Ruby (Kim Vasey) chasing hard followed by White Magic (David Wines) and Bootneck. As the boats rounded for the second run White Magic had worked up to second place having recovered from a disastrous fifth at the start. The tide was now ebbing much stronger at Asia causing Bootneck to take a penalty turn after hitting the mark in her rounding letting Ruby through into third. In an audacious move on the final run White Magic tried to pass to leeward of Echo taking advantage of light fluky wind conditions only to be defeated by Echo's cool spinnaker handling. By the final beat Echo had consolidated a substantial lead securing first place, but there was intense competition for the remaining places. In a cunning dash for the club end of the line Bootneck tried to snatch second from White Magic but failed by a just nose and Kim Vasey in Ruby took fourth.
Charisma/Foxterrier Result With a light NW wind that later moved further around to the SW the course for the WHSC One Design Thursday series was set to NW Winter, South Winter and a return to Deadmans Bay. It was left to CALVADOS (Keith Woodgate) to represent Charisma/Foxterrier yachts as this Class continued its poor turnout record this year. The Squib fleet was better represented with seven starters, however the light and dying airs produced a frustrating race. Five Trapper 300s came to the line with SPYTRAPPER (Kieron Kennedy, BARECAT (James Green) and CARLYLE BAY (David Merritt) opting for the port hand end, while LA STREGA (David Green) and PATSY (Gary Wilcox) started from the starboard end. The port end boats avoided some of the opposing tide by using the entrance to Sutton Channel and it was SPYTRAPPER that turned the windward mark first. The short second leg to S Winter saw BARECAT stumbling over her spinnaker hoist and it was only on the third leg back to Deadman's Bay she broke away from CARLYE BAY and pull back into contention with the SPYTRAPPER who lost momentum during the hoisting of her genoa. On the second round BARECAT fought hard, taking advantage of the wind's backing to a southerly and climbed to windward to be well up tide for the windward mark gaining further ground on SPYTRAPPER. The wind all but died away as the leaders turned the windward mark and it became a beat against the fast flowing flood tide to reach South Winter buoy. BARECAT tacked onto starboard and crossed SPYTRAPPER, a decision that appeared doomed with the whole of the fleet grimly holding onto port tack, but when some strength to the wind returned, it filled in from the port side and continued to back toward the west providing a freeing wind to the adventurous BARECAT while the rest of the fleet were being headed and driven by the tide away from the mark. Freed of the tide and with a refreshed breeze the reach to the finishing line became a procession as each boat became released like a cork from a bottle on rounding South Winter.
Charisma/Foxterrier Result Once again the Charisma/Foxterrier race consisted of Calvados (Keith Woodgate) following Foxtrot (Mike Grey) around the course but this was compensated by excellent turn outs in the Squibs and Trapper 300s In the Squibs The blustery north westerly wind generated a bit of a lottery as they attempted to anticipate the lifters and headers tacking up the windward leg from Dunstone to North East Winter. However, Bootneck (John Lewis) and B of the Bang (Paul Hardy) seemed to get it right each time sailing well clear of the rest of the fleet. Unfortunately the race was interrupted at the beginning of lap 2 whilst a navy frigate made an untimely return to port. This caused a complete change in the pecking order, and the fleet enjoyed good close quarter sailing for the remainder of the race. B of the Bang crossed the line first with Bootneck in close pursuit. Purfling (Norman Harris) finished only seconds ahead of Ruby(Kim Vasey) and Echo(John Barton) on a dead heat in fourth equal position. However final overall positions are subject to a request for redress due to a protest based on the interruption. In the Trapper 300s once again PATSY (Gary Wilcox) led the way in a hotly competitive beat to the first mark, where BARECAT (James Green) and SPYTRAPPER ( Kieron Kennedy) followed her around the mark. LA STREGA (David Green) and CARLYLE BAY (David Merritt) being slightly slower off the marks, represented a distinctly second race already. PATSY elected to gybe her spinnaker and approached the second mark on starboard tack while her pursuers held to their port tack only for the luckless leader to fail to drop her spinnaker in time for the mark and, when PATSY was forced to leave a wide open gateway at the buoy, BARECAT and SPYTRAPPER took full advantage. The second beat saw BARECAT playing the wind shifts to close with the Mount Batten breakwater and avoid the worst of the foul tide, while SPYTRAPPER didn't quite make it stick in the same way and by the third mark, BARECAT had gained a 30 second lead. Meanwhile the second group had caught PATSY and were snapping at her transom. Slick crew work on BARECAT at the downwind gybe mark of Deadman's Bay buoy saw her lead increase over SPYTRAPPER, with PATSY and CARLYLE BAY contesting third and fourth places, with LA STREGA looking to be out of contention without a spinnaker. With a backing and dropping breeze BARECAT elected to change from No2. to lightweight No1 genoa on the reach to Dunstone buoy, a decision that was executed a little late for the spinnaker drop and once again it looked as if a leader had let SPYTRAPPER through, but the head sail change proved to be the right one and the lead that had been reduced to no more than two boat lengths increased again until BARECAT finished 1 min 15 secs ahead of her rival, while the dropping wind saw the second group left more than 12 minutes behind, resulting in the the last leg becoming a white sail fetch for them and LA STREGA was again able to challenge CARLYLE BAY, taking fourth place within the last 200 metres of the course.
Charisma/Foxterrier Result Six Trapper 300's came to the start line and saw CARLYLE BAY (D Merritt) take advantage of open space toward the leeward end to lead the fleet away. SPYTRAPPER (K Kennedy) found herself dead in the water having had to throw on the brakes for being too early and LA STREGA (D Green) and BARECAT (J Green) piled on over the top of her while she was unable to respond. PATSY (G Wilcox) suffered in the same way with MADLEN (P Kersey) snatching her wind at the critical moment. BARECAT, having worked hard up tide turned the first mark ahead of CARLYLE BAY, while LA STREGA was a close third, MADLEN fourth, with PATSY and SPYTRAPPER - two of the leading contenders for the spring series - in fifth and sixth places respectively. The flooding tide promoted the port side of the beat, but shippping movements forced BARECAT onto port tack and toward the less favourable starboard side, while CARLYLE BAY, LA STREGA and MADLEN were able to continue on starboard tack and with a gently strengthening breeze too. The Melampus buoy was host to a swarm of Bosun dinghies as the T300's arrived. LA STREGA almost made the mark before BARECAT, but failing to take into account the strength of the tidal flow, she had to throw in another two tacks. BARECAT defensively tacked onto MADLEN's breeze and saw the latter's challenge fade when she had to give way to two Bosun dinghies on starboard tack and PATSY coming to the buoy on starboard. BARECAT continued to pull out what could have been a commanding lead down the run and across the hoe on the first of two legs of the changed and shortened course, but the faltering breeze enabled PATSY to hoist her maximum sized spinnaker on the third leg and, with the breeze once again filling in from seaward, the lead was chopped to a respectable 20 secs. MADLEN posted her best place to date with a third, followed by SPYTRAPPER, LA STREGA and CARLYLE BAY. Final result: 1st BARECAT, 2nd PATSY, 3rd MADLEN, 4th SPYTRAPPER, 5th LA STREGA, 6th CARLYLE BAY In the Squib class, Bootneck was quick off the mark at the starting gun but was soon overhauled to windward by Echo. Echo steadily extended her lead, on the long fetch to NE Winter only to throw it away by standing on too long in the flood tide at the turn. This allowed Bootneck back into first place with White Magic in close pursuit. Meanwhile Ruby having taken a course close to Drakes Island was now challenging Echo on the run back to the leeward mark at Deadman's Bay. As the leading boats turned, Bootneck held starboard tack across the river, broadside to the current, whilst White Magic tacked immediately onto port. With the benefit of a lifting breeze she was soon in pole position. The windward leg of the second lap was shortened down to SW Winter allowing the fleet to positions to consolidate and at the line once again White Magic finished first with Bootneck in close pursuit.
1st White Magic David Wines and Keith Davies At last a westerly wind enabled a windward start for the squibs with a particularly strong gust of wind adding to the spectacle on the start line. The classic windward leeward course produced some excellent close quarter competitive sailing with the entire fleet engaged in close tacking duels out from Cattewater passing South Winter to port and then on to the windward mark at Melampus. White Magic was first to round closely followed by Bootneck, Ruby and Echo. These three played cat and mouse for the following three laps of the course with Echo and Bootneck in particularly close combat, continually changing places. Echo finally secured second place on the final run, finishing by only a boat length ahead of Bootneck.
1st White Magic David Wines and Keith Davies This week saw only 2 boats in the Foxterrier and Charisma class, Mike Gray in the Foxterrier Foxtrot and Keith Woodgate in his Charisma Calvados. With the breeze freshening prior to the start Foxtrot opted to change to their smaller headsail whilst Calvados remained flying their genoa. After an even start and an few sharp tacks in the Cattewater it was Foxtrot who reached the windward mark first, a gybe at the mark saw them extend the lead under spinnaker which they held for all 4 rounds until the finish. A competitive start for the Trapper 300's saw SPYTRAPPER (K Kennedy) over the start line; PATSY (G Wilcox) a little shy of the line and BARECAT (J Green) temporarily without a headsail, while her crew wrestled to re-attach the genoa sheets! LA STREGA (D Green) being the fourth boat boat in a slightly depleted fleet. Despite having to return and re-cross the start line, SPYTRAPPER, in the one to one duel with PATSY up the beat, made best use of the ebbing tide to just - by the very smallest of margins - make the Melampus buoy first, while BARECAT had hauled herself back into contention. All three leading boats were slow in getting their spinnakers hoisted and it wasn't until very nearly halfway down the run to Deadman's Bay buoy that all three spinnakers were finally set and drawing. PATSY and BARECAT had reined in SPYTRAPPER's lead and with a tardy spinnaker drop before gybing at the buoy she lost momentum on the turn. BARECAT, being just astern of PATSY benefited from a gust and a smooth spinnaker drop to be able to call for water and exploited the inside track, popping out to windward of SPYTRAPPER; temporarily dead in the water. The eventual choice of a No.2 genoa for the evening proved to have been fortuitous for the new leader now; with almost 20 knots of apparent wind she was able to point higher and exploit the tidal advantages, steadily pulling out an unassailable lead. A shortened course 3rd lap saw the same boat for boat rivalry all the way up the beat between SPYTRAPPER and PATSY for second place, finally resolved on the run for home that saw SPYTRAPPER hold on and cross the line 15 seconds ahead of PATSY, with LA STREGA settling for 4th place having been unable to hoist her spinnaker all evening. Final result: 1st BARECAT, 2nd SPYTRAPPER, 3rd PATSY, 4th LA STREGA. The light and variable NE wind set a challenge for the line crew and the changing conditions resulted in a course with two reaches and a short beat. The Charismas/Foxterrier were first off the line with Foxtrot (Mike Grey) leading Calvados (Keith Woodgate and Black Socks (Jeff Barlow). This remained the order throughout the race with large gaps opening up between the three yachts.
1st Foxtrot Mike Grey Seven squibs came to the line for a close fought race over a short windward leeward course. Bootneck was over on the start line and had to restart, but the rest of the fleet got away cleanly with Echo taking the lead out from the Cattewater. With a fetch to SE Winter followed by a beat to NW Winter, Echo held first closely followed by Ruby and White magic. On the return run Archimedes took a low course out of the lea of the Hoe sneaking into the lead. During the second round there was much changing in the order as boats diced with wind variations by the club house. At the line Archimedes took first place follow by White Magic with Echo in third position.
1st Archimedes Mark Heseltine The first leg saw Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) lead away with good boat speed, ahead of Barecat (James Green), Patsy (Gary Wilcox) and Madlen (Peter Kersey), an order that was maintained until the second mark, when Barecat and Spytrapper, while hoisting their spinnakers once again became embroiled in a sharp luffing duel that resulted in Barecat taking penalty turns while Patsy, Madlen and Carlyle Bay (David Merritt) stormed through. Having dropped her spinnaker to complete her turns, Barecat threw her nylon up again and got right back into the chase, overhauling Carlyle and challenging Madlen on the same long leg back to the Deadman's Bay buoy. Meanwhile at the front Patsy was hanging on to Spytrapper's coat tails as the leader slipped to leeward on the flukey and tight reach.
1st Spytrapper Kieron Kennedy
With the wind blowing down the Cattewater the boats started with spinnakers set, reaching out to South East Winter before turning to beat to Dunstone. The Charismas/Foxterriers were first away with Calvados(Keith Woodgate) starting prematurely leaving Foxtrot (Mike Grey) in front and going on to build up a substantial lead.
1st Foxtrot Mike Grey The Squib fleet expanded again this week as Mark Heseltine and David Searle rejoined the fleet with their old boat Archimedes. With a shifting wind there was plenty of opportunity for some tactical manoeuvres. Echo moved up from last to third place at the windward mark before starting the run back to West Mallard . However, good spinnaker handling let Bootneck through and Echo slipped back to forth. Meanwhile White Magic had once again established a commanding lead with Ruby chasing hard.
1st White Magic David Wines The six Trapper 300's enjoyed some of the closest racing yet. LA STREGA (David Green) hit the start line just two seconds early, ahead of SPYTRAPPER (Kieron Kennedy) and BARECAT (James Green) and PATSY (Gary Wilcox). A classic and fruitless luffing match between the two leading boats opened the gate for PATSY to contend for the lead, but it was SPYTRAPPER that just turned first at NW Winter. As spinnakers were dowsed and the beat to Dunstone evolved, BARECAT had overtaken SPYTRAPPER and PATSY, but at Dunstone PATSY's decision to stand clear of the fray saw her hoist her spinnaker efficiently and smoothly pull away, from SPYTRAPPER and BARECAT. The second group of three also swapping positions, with MADLEN (Peter Kersey)achieving a comfortable 4th position while LA STREGA, despite being singlehanded gained on CARLYLE BAY (David Merritt). On the return toward Deadmans Bay buoy SPYTRAPPER and BARECAT settled for second and third places respectively but failed to re-pack their spinnakers in readiness for the gybe and the now shortened course to West Mallard buoy. PATSY, reveling in her dominant position, pulled ahead but had failed to notice the change of course signal and romped off toward NE Winter. Her lead was such that she managed to effect the course change and reach the correct mark just ahead of BARECAT and SPYTRAPPER and thereafter retained her place to win ahead of the latter two.
Final Positions:
1st PATSY Gary Wilcox Only Calvados (Keith Woodgate) and Foxtrot (Nigel Grey) represented the Charisma/Foxterrier classes for the Thursday evening WHSC racing. In the light NW breeze they set off for NE Winter with Foxtrot building up a significant lead, but on the beat across to Dunstone Calvados regained some ground by taking a course deep into Jennycliffe Bay whilst Foxtrot tacked earlier in the centre of the Sound. Calvados closed the gap further on the run into Deadmans Bay and the two boats were seconds apart at the end of the first round. The line decision to send the two boats on a second round however proved optimistic in the dying breeze and ultimately both boats ended up retiring. With a fleet of 6 squibs assembled at the start line on Thursday evening including new member Kim Vasey sailing Ruby, squib no.40, the competitive spirit was running high. Three boats were taking penalty turns within seconds of the starting gun! This gave a clear initial lead to Norman Harris in Purfling. However, this was not to last and once the fleet had cleared SE Winter the beat to Dunstone presented many opportunities. The beneficial effect of the Jennycliff eddy was soon apparent. White Magic gained the lead closely pursed by Bootneck. Echo challenged hard for third position, but the failing wind enabled Purfling to retain third place at the line.
Squib Results
1st White Magic David Wines Six Trapper 300s came to the line, with Patsy (Gary Wilcox) attacking with good speed and precise timing to lead the fleet away again. The close fetch to the first mark saw Barecat (James Green) feint toward Spytrapper's Kieron Kennedy) windward side, only to accelerate and pass through her lee, going on to close the gap between herself and the third boat Carlyle Bay. At the first mark, the three leading boats elected to simply harden sheets, but to continue on port tack, while Barecat and Spytrapper tacked for the tide favoured port side of the beat. Belatedly, Patsy recognised the error of her ways, but by then Barecat had pulled back three places and stolen the lead. With spinnakers set flying, the faltering breeze favoured the leading boats. Barecat carried her kite to the third mark, gybed it and worked her way to the finish, while Patsy had to drop her pink nylon and fetch to windward using her No.1 genoa. Spytrapper dropped her spinnaker too and then found herself having to defend her third place over Carlyle Bay,(David Merritt) who, given another 100 metres in the final leg, would have overhauled her.
Trapper 300 Result: Whilst none of the Charisma/Foxterriers showed up on the line the Squibs and Trapper 300s had a great first race in a steady 20 knots of wind from the SSE. The Squibs were in their element and the conditions soon exposed any gear weaknesses, or boat handling skills! The windward leg from West Mallard to Dunstone called for some serious sitting out. Although White Magic (David Wines) was first to round they spent most of the run with the spinnaker tied in a figure of eight, allowing the other squibs to regain some ground. On passing the end of Mountbatten Breakwater the run tightened into a close reach. With spinnakers still set the boats were pressed hard, close to broaching. B of the Bang (Paul Hardy) gave a brilliant demonstration in boat handling and pulled right up into second place. The fleet stay in these positions for the second round with all squibs finishing in very close proximity. A great start to the season and an indication that it is going to be a very competitive one!
Squib Results 5 Trapper 300s came to line, with Patsy (Gary Wilcox) crossing on the gun at maximum speed whilst the rest of the fleet left themselves with a lot of catching up to do. Carlyle Bay (David Merritt) led the rest of stragglers of the line. A fast, reach to the West Mallard buoy saw a closing of the fleet and Barecat (James Green) turned inside Carlyle Bay, both upwind of Patsy(Gary Wilcox) - struggling with a full No.1 genoa. Spytrapper (Kieron Kennedy) saw no future in being in the dirty air behind the leading three boats and tacked onto starboard, leaving Barecat to lead the rest of the fleet out toward the middle of the Sound to enable a later single tack to bring them to the Dunstone buoy. Spytrapper's tactic paid handsomely and she crossed and then tacked onto Barecat's wind just five lengths from the Dunstone buoy. Spytrapper gybed and bravely set a small spinnaker, leading Barecat, Patsy, Carlyle Bay and La Strega - all of whom elected not to hoist their kites. Barecat's goose-winged genoa covered the leading boat sufficiently to be able to her crawl up to windward of Spytrapper at the end of Mount Batten's breakwater and then to dominate the reach boat to the finishing line.
Trapper 300s Results |
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