Coronation Race Report - 6 May

With grey skies, rain and lowy conditions, there was a distinct absence of PYC’s fairer weather sailors today. The wind started off as a steady 14kts, gusting 20kts before calming slightly as the race went on. Started south easterly with south-southwesterly gusts taking over.

For the brave souls that ventured out today, they were treated to a course that challenged the human memory and a QWERTY keyboard. The race officer for today, our very own Roberta (excellent by the way 👏) set the ambitious course: MQORUWUWXUWZ - yes, that’s right, three beats to Wych in there.

Everyone seemed to get away off the start ok (the RO said in the bar that it was a rubbish start and that we were all way off the line). Those starting towards the platform end and got out into the tide quicker seemed to be rewarded but maybe I am biased. For the 7s, Chris led around the windward mark from Andrew & Colston. In the 6s, Gayle led from Fiona & James. A few places traded hands on the broad reaches to NC12 and outdoor gear before heading up on a shifty beat to Rebbecks in the lee of Brownsea. Most memorable moment for me was watching Colston fall in to windward as he got too close to a passing ferry.

Chris and Andrew got away from rest of the fleet and consolidated these positions as the race progressed. David got ahead from Colston following his afternoon swim and comfortably kept third from then on.

Then it gets a bit contentious. On the run down to Chris Somner, Andrew seemed to head off to Morris Lane… leading to claims of outside assistance as he came back on course… Chris had a 100m lead which soon vanished as Andrew came in on a screaming reach. With Andrew now in the lead, Chris attempted to force as mistake and a tacking duel ensued on the third beat up to Wych. Chris tried to force a mistake but Andrew held his nerve and was _crowned_ champion for the day.

In the 6s, Gayle kept her lead from me with Bob and Anne starting to close in. On the second beat up to Wych, Bob played the gusts well and kept the boat flat to take the lead. In a charitable mood, I had also let Anne & Fiona by this point too. Anne must have got too hot hiking on the third beat up to Wych as she took the opportunity to cool down with a double capsize that allowed some of us through. I briefly threatened to take Gayle for second place on the long run down to Brindle but a death roll in one of those southwesterly gusts ended any chance I had.

Full results below. Special shout out to Lucy stuck with it despite having a relatively lonely race. And to Nik in the 7s who sailed the whole course then retired at Brindle!

*7s*

Andrew

Chris

David H

Colston

Gary

John

Nik (retired)

John R (retired)

*6s*

Bob

Gayle

JK

Fiona

Ann

Lucy