Report by Patrick Keats
Has the Wind(less) witch been overcome?
At the recent Autumnal Equinox Huw performed the casting out ritual (whilst dancing skyclad under the stars) to rid the Parkstone Flying 15 fleet of the Wind(less) Witch’s evil curse that has deprived them of any meaningful breeze throughout 2018. Judging from early results it appears that the ceremony was a success.
A buoyant Flying 15 fleet turned out for a healthy belt around Poole Harbour in a brisk Northerly breeze gusting around 25 kts. Setting a course was tricky due to low water but the race team of Graham Latham, Fi Linford and Sara Briscoe created a fabulous course that gave the fleet plenty of proper beats, runs with gybes and a memorable transit reach across the harbour.
Whilst in pre start, the breeze started to build quite impressively, gusts of over 30kts regularly recorded. The start immediately split the fleet – those on the left (who could read tide tables) pulling away from those whose progress was impeded by their keels ploughing furrows through the Poole Harbour silt. Fair to say that the team of Graham Davies/Steve Randle got the best of the start with Patrick Keats/Andy Stevens nearby. This positioning was maintained through the first mark and on to the run, where Davies/Randle decided (at its conclusion) to drop their kite and white sail it down the forthcoming reach.
Keats, forgetting that discretion is occasionally the better part of valour, decided to go for the kite gybe despite the urgings of his increasingly concerned crew.
The rest of the fleet caught up quickly with the newly capsized Flying Fifteen but somehow Keats/Stevens did manage to get in to recovery mode, holding on to second place…just. Meanwhile Davies/Randle were off at warp 9 towards Bell race mark stretching out what looked to be an unassailable lead. Snapping at the heels of Keats/Stevens were the ever threatening Pipe/Jarratt team and (following their ploughing exercise) Graham and Ben of Team Scroggie Squared. Bell race mark saw Davies/Randle perform a series of dramatic manoeuvres that concluded with a broach and a U/S kicking strap that effectively knocked them out of contention for the chocolates. The next beat let Team Scroggie Squared take the lead with Keats/Stevens and Pipe/Jarratt in hot pursuit.
Fair to say that the gybing angle by Team Scroggie Squared on the final run was proven to be a tad hot when (following a huge gust of 37kts) another opportunity to view the underside of the 15 keel was given. This gave Keats/Stevens the opportunity to pop their nose back in front. Team Scroggie Squared lost out on the following beat to Pipe/Jarratt who were on a charge. Keats/Stevens were pursued to the last by Pipe/Jarratt who relentlessly chased down the leaders but just failed to pip them at the line.
The fleet returned home unbroken and undaunted. A great race in winds that the Flying 15 (and her crews) love. Many toasts were made in the bar to the vanquishing of the Wind(less) Witch – we hope she makes no re-emergence!
Positions
1st Patrick Keats/ Andy Stevens
2nd David Pipe / Rob Jarratt
3rd Graham Scroggie/ Ben Scroggie
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