It’s Budget Day! What better to do than forget about all that nonsense and go sailing? So we all gathered at the club in a barely palpable breeze, contemplating our fate for the afternoon. Thirteen boats arrived at the platform in glorious sunshine and a light breeze, but our hopes were quickly dashed as the wind completely faded. Up went the AP flag. However, Mrs Reeves was just getting to her feet and generating a lot of hot air in Westminster, which promptly found its way to Dorset in the form of a pleasant 7-12 knot breeze. As the Chancellor pressed on, the breeze was strengthened by a developing deep depression in middle England.

The wind was from the SW with a gently ebbing tide. First mark, Chris Somner to port, the ODM on the west side of the platform. The pin end of the start line was therefore strongly favoured on starboard tack. A number of forward boats found themselves shut out at the pin, passing it on the wrong side, allowing the next wave to pass through in clear air.

Being a Labour budget, it of course paid to go left. A number of boats turned right to avoid the ebbing tide, but once the left hand boats had crossed the main channel, a stronger breeze, some bend around the island and helpful lee bow gave them a significant advantage towards the windward mark. Next was a leeward run to Parkstone Dental, favouring those that went right. It was then over the line to do it again one more time. Roberta had the initial lead in 4016, with Gareth and myself hot on her heels and occasionally trading places. However, Martin and Andrew slipped through on the second beat, by taking an unashamedly far left position that would make even Mrs. Reeves’ hair curl. Due to a wind shift, the second run was a more-or-less straight line to the mark. It was then a dash to the line, with Martin maintaining his comfortable lead and an annoying patch of fluky wind leaving me to watch Roberta shoot through at the last minute. But hey-ho, at least I got to write the report!

As always, thanks to Fi and her team for setting a straightforward course that was ideal for the conditions, which were predicted to be fickle but provided us with an unexpectedly pleasant sail. I hope there weren’t too many budget shocks waiting for you when you got home!

David Tarver

Results

1. 3922  Martin & Andrew
2. 4016  Roberta & John
3. 3965  David & Gareth
4. 4027  Mike & Steve
5. 3793  Pete & Jo
6. 4101  Crispin & Steve
7. 4036  Dick & Pete
8. 3971  David & Frances
9. 4058  Phil & Martin
10. 4052  Simon & Matt
11. 3936  Ian & Mike
12. 3934  Graham & Homfray
13. 3966  Richard & Alan