Wednesday 17th June - The evening race
Posted By admin on June 18, 2009
Bit of a blustery evening, 12kts WSW with some wicked little gusts saw 10 boats + 1 late arrival take to the water, pre start saw one drop out with Bob in the Drascombe deciding not to compete, seem to remember this used to be a bit of a flyer in a breeze? However of the rest the fleet, 9 boats (soon to be 10, but be patient) hit the line running with the Fulmar of Mike Pollard making the early dash flying what looked to be a new Genny who’s size resembled the full years output of a textile mill. Close behind was the Delta of JQ, managing to get off the line cleanly this race, the Trimaran, Outlaw, making a welcome return after about 3 years and the remainder of the fleet. Surprisingly only containing two 1 designs, Rosie B and the ever present Amy of Brian, this was the one everyone was keeping their eye on as a potential winner. The remaining missing one designers are obviously the cocoa & slippers brigade or degenerate bowlers!
During the first leg the National 18, Gorrum, of Mick Kneale appeared in the Bay for the race, this proved Mick’s muti tasking and appreciation of the “Castletown Triangle” where time takes on a whole new form had failed him. However after picking up crew at the Pier, powdering his nose stowing the handbags he started a full 40 minutes behind the fleet, but not for long!
Right, back to the race, at the second mark a bit of head sheet juggling on the winches by the skipper seemed to push the Fulmar wide allowing JQ to get his nose in front and we all know once his nose is in front there’s no stopping him. This leg to the outer limit start mark was the leg of attrition with some really nasty little wind devils catching the boats with tacking in the knocks and playing the lifts allowing yards to be gained, it also showed lots of bottoms being bared to the sky as gusts hit. (for new readers that’s boats not people so don’t crowd the prom next race) All the boats had tales to tell of this leg with the large heavy displacements coming out on top and others having minor gear failures forcing retirements. However no issues for ex national 18 champ Mick in Gorrum lapping up the breeze flying his kite and clawing distance back on the fleet.
The next leg to Sandwick and back saw both the wind and the positions on the water stabilise leaving all to grind out their own races and make what gains they could over the boat in front. The final Triangle was a really nice sail, steady wind, a few nice waves to surf the boats on from the Bell Buoy and the ever present Gorrum, still flying their kite at every opportunity and still clawing those yards back.
For full results follow the link on the results page, but, the first ever handicap win for JQ, hard fought from the king of the 1 designs Brian who again showed his skill in not only getting the boat round in some difficult conditions but ending runner up. Third place went to Mike in the Fulmar.
As ever the support from the visiting Spaniard’s, Shearwater, Seltar II, Outlaw and the first and hopefully not last visit of Gorrum, was tremendous considering these guys must have had a fairly uncomfortable and lumpy trip round Scarlett in both directions.
Not too many tales this race, Jim in the Leisure, broke his tiller, but there’s definitely something going on with Tom & Rex in Tuvag but the guys are staying quiet. Sketchy reports of broken turnbuckles, too much sail up are coming out and all Tom’s saying is advertise his business of HR Consultancy, think this will cover Finance & Industry but from his militant crew no evidence of his HR skill extending to a marine environment!
Stop press; Ben Hellowell sailing for the first time with JQ in the Delta broke his watch strap and saw the watch slide gracefully down through the self drainers in the cockpit. Later that evening Q got a phone call from the Basking Shark (of previous post fame) thanking him for the watch and asking if he could drop off a gold chain next time. He’ll be in the Bay between the Bell and Sandwick each evening between 19:00 and 22:00 hrs (he can be accurate now with the watch) for a few pints of real plankton and a gold chain will really compliment the oakleys, phone and watch and set him apart from the rest when he’s chasing female Basking totty.
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