Weymouth Sailing Club’s traditional Boxing Day race went ahead this year despite some ferocious 40 knot gusts. Our new Commodore, Euan McNair, set a course that kept the nine brave competing boats out of the worst of the conditions, tucked safely in the relatively flat waters of Weymouth Bay.
Unfortunately the gusts proved a little too much for one boat, breaking its boom ‘like a cocktail stick’. We understand the musician on board succeeded in getting some interesting tunes out of the rigging beforehand though, including a high ‘C’ just before the snap.
Another boat (crewed by an experienced team including the Class Capt) allegedly ran aground on the soft putty on the southern side of the harbour entrance. According to a few uncorroborated and probably highly inaccurate reports, their keel was stuck in mud for a good 10 minutes before they managed to waddle themselves free. All evidence of this potentially embarrassing incident has been inadvertently lost though (how strange? - ED).
Highly redacted photos are available here: https://goo.gl/photos/mJ4kDXDpEKVqPryR9
However seven boats made it round the course without incident and tacked their way up the harbour to finish in front of the club house, saluted by a cannon firing.
Ricky Bruton’s “Passion” was first across the line but lost to Nick Massey’s “Tumbarumba” after corrected times were calculated under IRC. The crew on Tumbarumba each won a festive Harken beenie hat - proudly shown in the attached photo.
Many crews dressed up - santa costumes and elf hats proved a popular theme this year. A bottle of wine for best dressed boat went to Jerry Thompson’s “Jurassic Coaster”.
As ever, the club house was packed with family and friends all sharing a huge spread of turkey sandwiches, nut roasts and Christmas pudding left over from the day before.
Submitted on 29th December 2015