The Longest Day (or in our case the longest distance sailed to the weather mark)

With a cracking afternoon’s sail in prospect, and sound thinking by Mervyn in asking the Race Officer to postpone the Flying Fifteen start whilst we waited for the tide to come in, what could possibly go wrong?

Eventually, 17 Fifteens lined up for the delayed start. I say eventually, as one boat opted to exit through the cut whilst almost everyone else thought it more prudent to use the marina entrance. After some time spent wading in the mud and acting as a clear indication to others not to follow, Patrick made it to the line. Rasputin candidate number 1?

The course was displayed, being 3 laps of Ellis Jones (P), Our Kid (P) and a Colon (?). The colon caused some consternation in our boat, and when the course book informed us that it was a gate, this prompted further discussion of what a jolly sensible use of an emoji this was.

With a strong flood tide and a lightish SE breeze, that appeared to be firmer on the mainland shore, a clean start and holding a lane on the long starboard tack toward Salterns Marina was the order of the day. Despite the occasional lifts on starboard making those inshore look very vulnerable, the lack of pressure to the right and stronger current allowed the left hand group to pop out ahead. 4101 led out of the corner with 3758 and 3793 in close proximity.

With eyes out of the boat to windward, a PYC rib off the Royal Motor and the RS 400 fleet heading in that general direction, we in 3793 kept tacking to the left whilst keeping an eye of 3758, 4125 and others in our immediate vicinity. Now well to the NE of the North Channel, and thinking about easing sheets to the Royal Motor, I looked under the boom and commented on how far sideways those boats that had tacked out early seemed to be taken in the current...  Rasputin candidate number 2? as we hoisted the spinnaker and reached across to Ellis Jones. Trust us to pick the 400’s to show us the way, turns out they were doing their Round the Island race!

The damage was somewhat mitigated by a number of other boats that had also ‘forgotten’ where Ellis Jones was, and we rounded approximately mid fleet, after completing a 300 degree turn around the mark.
The spinnaker colours suggested that 4052 and 3922 were out in front, with 4020 not too far behind. Not much to report on this leg, apart from Jo getting distracted by Bill Lauste deciding to bare his torso to cool down.

The majority chose to gybe at Our Kid, in search of the flooding tide in the main channel. This magic carpet ride more than outweighed the risk of less pressure and was the route of choice for the remaining laps for the run down to the gate, located somewhere between Webley Heating and Stans mark.  At this point Ann, sailing with William aboard 3974, made a late charge for the Rasputin trophy having decided to pass Our Kid to starboard. When spotted, a timely shout from 4054 (I think) saved the day, however, dropping the kite and sailing back to the mark against the tide proved very expensive! Rasputin candidate number 3?

The leeward gate was an inspired choice by the RO. Not only did the gate increase tactical options, with multiple classes also sailing this course, the gate provided greater opportunity to keep clear, thereby reducing the risk of incidents between fleets or within a fleet.

The beat back to the line from the gate remains a mystery. Logic dictated that staying inshore should be the favoured option, just as it was between the Platform and Ellis Jones, however and certainly for much of this leg, it paid to stay out in the tide. A slightly more favourable heading, and perhaps more pressure, appeared to more than offset the tidal disadvantage when compared to those right inshore. 4101 made significant gains by taking this route on each lap. We were never quite so punchy but did also make gains too. In fact, by hanging on to Crispin’s coat tails throughout the race we both managed to find ourselves on the podium, following a dramatic rounding at the gate for the final time. 4101, 3922 and 3793 were abreast on starboard gybe, with 4101 on the inside for the left hand mark and 3793 on the inside for the right hand mark. The left hand mark was closer and the best route to the favoured side of the final beat. Assuming those inside of us would both take this option, I suggested to Jo that the straightforward option would be to opt for the right, to which the response was ‘’we are doing the Worlds soon, we need to put ourselves under pressure’’. Game on I thought and gybed for the left. 3922 carried on for the right, happy days. In the melee to drop the kite, it inevitably went under the bow, so any attempt to stay close to 4101 whilst Jo was on the bow, quickly disappeared. Disaster averted, we tacked onto starboard when I then realised the mainsheet was under the leeward quarter and I couldn’t sheet on properly. Jo now found herself hanging over the opposite end of the ship muttering something along the lines of ‘’I should not be doing this at my age’’. I simply enquired if that was enough pressure for a mark rounding and what about Mr Scroggie…

Congrats to Tabby and Chewey for showing the fleet a clean pair of heels. Although successfully staying in the boat this time, Tabby did manage to give himself a nasty bang on the head and proving yet again there is more room in a Dragon!

Congrats also to Patrick and Aly for making significant gains after finding themselves a solid DFL on the first lap. It is amazing how much quicker you go once the mud washes off the keel and rudder!

Further congrats to Kim having been selected by the Bard as Reporter of the Month for May, and finally, to Graham and Jack as undisputed Saturday Series Sailors of the Month.

Results

1. 4052 Dave and Chewey
2. 4101 Crispin and Steve
3. 3793 Pete and Jo
4. 3922 Ian and Mike
5. 4125 David and Anne-Laure
6. 4020 Graham and Jack
7. 4115 Ian and Kim
8. 3821 Patrick and Ally
9. 4054 Andy and Simon
10. 3798 Graham and Sara
11. 4019 Steve and Lisa
12. 4111 Mervyn and Ron
13. 4027 Mike and Rob
14. 3966 Richard and Alan
15. 3974 Anne and William
16. 3936 Peter V and Brother V