On Wednesday of last week I, like many others, wasn't convinced that there would be much chance of getting any racing in on the first weekend of the YCW Spring Series. Forecasts of force 7-9 winds from the South-East and rain didn't look very appetising. And even come Saturday night I this still wasn't convinced we would get the chance to get some racing in. But ever the optimist I rolled out of bed early on Sunday morning and checked, re-checked and checked again the club's wind display to find we had an ideal force 4-5 from the South-South-West and currently no rain.
The forecasts were still sticking with their original thoughts, much to be said for looking out the window! Several boats were missing due to being delayed getting back in the water after their winter maintenance and a few had made an early decision to cancel out of consideration to their crew, but six boats made it out to the start line, 4 fast class & 2 slow class, for the first race of 6 in the series.
RO and ARO, Iain Jones and Steve Fraser respectively, set a triangle/sausage using the full length available with our racing marks - a course of FpKpCpFpCp was set for the fast class and FpKpCpFpVp was set for the slow class.
Euan McNair and Phil Norris, stalwarts of the rescue boat, laid a line which started off as being favoured at the committee boat end boat but with a changing breeze ended up being favoured at the pin end come the start.
Mark and Rima Bugler, making their race debut in their newly acquired J-97 Saskia VIII, made a great start at the committee boat hitting the line at full speed and on the gun. Similarly the Farr Out team made a fantastic start bang in the middle of the line. Everyone else was a few seconds late - still trying to shake off that early season rustiness.
Wildfire recovered from a sluggish start to round the windward mark ahead of the fleet, the extra weight on the rail really making a difference up the beats. The angles on the triangle were perfect for the boats racing and the conditions. A lively kiteable two legs with some lovely waves to get surfing on when you got the timing right. A 1.2 mile beat from C back up to F, with no Z, allowed the competitors to choose their route up the beat but with a right hand wind shift the right hand side of the course was being favoured by most. Swenn and Loo Lah were having a great battle in the slower class with Swenn edging it at the first leeward mark.
As the race continued there were no real dramas with everyone holding their positions around the course but then, maybe coinciding with a slight increase in breeze, incidents started to occur. On one of their leeward mark roundings as Farr Out hardened up and sheeted in they heard the dreaded Bang! the rigging went slack and some questionable looks exchanged. Farr Out had to stop their race for a short time whilst they concluded it was just the mast settling in on their first sail of the season so they tightened up the rigging and carried on with their race. Meanwhile Arcsine were having some trouble when their crew, admittedly only 3 of them, went for a gybe down the run and suffered a magnificent spinnaker wrap.
Then down the last run of the race as Wildfire gybed their pole downhaul came off causing the pole to point to the skies and enforce a broach. They recovered quickly once the main trimmer decided it would be a good idea to actually ease the mainsheet.
The race committee took the decision to shorten the slow class at the windward mark with Swenn taking line honours on the day followed by Loo Lah. The faster class were given an extra leg and Viking II's turn of speed was tested finishing them at the leeward mark. With Wildfire taking line honours.
With a long distance race scheduled for the 2nd Sunday(21st April) of the YCW Spring series and owners having an extra week to get their winter maintenance finished we hope to have all the entries out on the start line.
There are several boats looking for crew at the moment so if you haven't got a sail for the weekend yet then either use the website 'Crew Available' or if really desperate contact myself.
In all it was a fantastic sail and an ideal opportunity to shake off some of the early season rustiness Thanks to all for organising and competing. See you all out there for the next race?
Nick F
Submitted on 17th April 2013