Novatech Beneteau 40.7 champs at Gun Wharf Quays,Portsmorth

Action from the Beneteau 40.7 Nationals held from Gun Wharf Quays,Portsmorth © Ingrid Abery / www.hotcapers.com

Action from the Beneteau 40.7 Nationals held from Gun Wharf Quays,Portsmorth © Ingrid Abery / www.hotcapers.com

Spring series results turned around

Eight Beneteau 40.7’s made the trip to sunny Portsmouth on Friday over the weekend of 23/24 May for the very first class specific championship held in the UK.

Hosted and run by the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club, berthing for competitors was in the Gunwharf Marina, right in the centre of the Portsmouth Action, and with five windward/leeward races scheduled over the two days, the scene was set for some tough racing under each boats IRC handicap.

Early on Saturday morning the fleet left Gunwharf into a chilly North-easterly 16-knot breeze, which by the start time of 1000 hrs had begun to drop off and was moving around plenty, causing a slight postponement whilst the course was laid.

Most of the top 40.7’s on the south coast were at the line, including Glenn and Nick JONES’ Tarka, which dominated the Warsash Spring Series, and Paul and Joanna DENTSKEVICH’s EuphoriX, second To Tarka in the Spring Series.

The first race eventually got underway in a light to moderate but very shifty breeze. Tarka laid down the gauntlet, leading the fleet off on port tack, ahead of Robin DOLLAR’s Grand Cru II, and Peter ROBSON’s Playing Arround. However, at the first mark it was EuphoriX who rounded first, following a lacklustre start but some good shift work up the first beat. A bunch that included Grand CRU II, Tarka, Nick LUTTE’S Shockwave, and Playing Arround followed them closely.

EuphoriX went on to win the first race, just under two minutes ahead of the following group, who crossed the line within seconds of each other. After a leeward mark incident involving Tarka and Grand CRU II, that saw Tarka taking a yellow flag penalty, it was Grand CRU II that took second, followed by Playing Arround, and Tarka.

The wind was a little lighter for race two and as the fleet lined up they were treated to the foredeck crew on Euphorix dropping the Genoa and re-hoisting it with less than a minute to go. Tarka seized the opportunity and started on port tack, whilst EuphoriX got buried with a lack of power. Both Grand CRU and Shockwave had good starts and rounded out the top three at the first mark.

Tarka never relinquished her lead, and some good downwind sailing pulled Euphorix through to second whilst Shockwave dropped to fifth behind Grand CRU II and Playing Arround in third and fourth respectively in a fleet that was split by the tide.

Race three, the final race of the day was sailed in an ever-lightening breeze and it was EuphoriX who led at the first windward mark from Tarka and Grand CRU. As the fleet closed up down the first run, Tarka looked to have overtaken Euphorix, and Grand CRU was but a couple of boat lengths behind the pair. A very late drop at the leeward mark and an inside overlap saw Euphorix sneak ahead of Tarka, but in the ensuing mêlée, they let Grand CRU II into the resulting gap.

Whilst Euphorix and Tarka proceeded to the left side of the course, race leader Grand CRU II chose to split, a tactic that was to be her undoing as a 40 degree left hand shift towards the top of the course sent the top two on the travellator up to the final windward mark of the day. That was the eventual finishing order with EuphoriX taking the gun from Tarka. Grand CRU II finished third and in the ever-lightening breeze, it was Nick LUTTE’s Shockwave who pulled through to finish fourth.

Following an excellent reception at the Royal Alfred where all competitors were treated to what seemed a never ending flow of free drinks, it was then time to sample the best nightlife Portsmouth had to offer as the fleet shipped en masse to sample the culinary delights and visual pleasure that is Tiger Tiger. A short crawl home to the boat and everyone was down for an early night before racing resumed on Sunday.

Sunday dawned bright and (too) early for some. There was also a distinct lack of what makes a Beneteau 40.7 go and a couple of hours drifting was in order before a light Southerly sea breeze filled in.

Two incredibly short courses kept the fleet very close on Sunday. In the first race a botched pin end start from Euphorix and perfect starts from Playing Arround and Tarka saw the fleet bunched at the first mark. Playing Arround led from Tarka and Shockwave, Euphorix were just behind closely followed by Grand CRU, Andrew JACKSON’s Genie, and Peter WOLSTENHOLME’S Rangatira. Playing Arround took the race win from Tarka, followed closely by EuphoriX and Grand CRU II, setting the scene for a last race battle between Euphorix and Tarka for the overall title.

The breeze for the final race of the regatta had turned into a solid, 10-12 knot sea breeze, and it was obviously suited to the whole of the fleet, which only got away after a general recall. For Tarka to take the title, they needed to win the final race of the weekend, and Euphorix just needed to prevent that happening to win overall. Some close tailing in pre-start from EuphoriX led to an even start for the pair, whilst Playing Arround sailed their own race from the off to lead clearly, Tarka and EuphoriX went round the first mark in second and third respectively, one boat length separating the pair and sitting behind Grand CRU. An excellent deep hoist from Euphorix and she nipped into an inside overlap on the pair, going round the leeward mark in second position and simply needing to cover Tarka to finish second in the race behind Playing Arround and first in the championship.

Playing Around’s two bullets on the final day almost gave her second overall, with Tarka holding on by a single point for second, Grand CRU was fourth, followed by Shockwave in fifth and Genie in sixth. Rangatira was seventh and an unfortunate pole-snapping incident for Charles BULL’s Unruly on the first day saw them in eighth place overall.

Huge thanks must go to the RNC & RAYC for conceiving and hosting the event, their first race regatta run as a club and one which we hope to see every year, regatta sponsors Novatech, and everyone else who helped organise, and run a fantastic weekend of racing for the class.

Report from Peter Robson on 'Playing Around'

‘We need more crew!’

Having raided Chichester Yacht Club’s Optimist fleet (yes, 3 of the crew sailed Oppies last year), frantic mid-week calls to Ian Morrin, who kindly obliged with finding Clive, an accomplished ex Portsmouth Uni Graduate.

So with Simon Kitchen(14yrs old) on mainsheet, Nick Robson (11yrs old) wanting to do bow, Bethany Robson (13 going on 18) on skirting, and Sarah Kafetz as mast-lady, we felt more than a little wary heading out to the start, with 18kts blowing across the bow. We watched Shockwave pull up her sails and surge off at a huge rate of knots past us. Are we in the right place? Are we on the right planet? Andrew decides to do bow, as we think Nick might be blown off the bow in this wind. Manda Robson definitely thinks Pit is the right place to be in these conditions. Guest for the day Clive and Tony Lowe kindly trim Genoa and kite.

Race 1

Number 3 or heavy number 1? We decided to watch what others put up, not really knowing the difference. We opted eventually for the medium number 1, as the wind forecast was dropping, and besides, it is a better looking sail, or so Bethany reminded us. Tactics for the first race were decided - keep over to the right in the tide, and if the wind veers as expected, we should be lifted out of it. So we start rather cautiously mid-line, and …. go up the middle! Tarka goes right, tacks, and has to go behind us. Others who went left pull out nicely on us. Tarka tacks on the shifts, and starts climbing up the fleet. We opt to go right, and arrive at the windward mark not too far behind the leaders, but enough to make it a hard chase.

Downwind, we go high, as the wind drops. Those that go low pull out even more…. We have some learning to do here!

Next beat we pick up a small lift on Port. Go out to the right corner, insists Eddie Gatehouse the tactician, it has got to clock round! As if on cue, a 20degree header hits, and we tack to lay the windward mark. We are back in the race.

Downwind, we opt to go low. Pick up a bit more pressure, and down we go. Is this how it is done? Follow Grand Cru, they seem to be masters at going low. Pick up a nice wind lane, and just steer to keep in it.

Leeward Mark, Grand Cru rounds wide. Tarka reckons she can fit inside, and Grand Cru close the door. Tarka really should have known better. With the two boats locked together, we bear off round them and sail our own race to the finish. We finish dead level with Grand Cru, which give us a 3rd after handicap, and Tarka takes a penalty to go 4th.

Race 2

Hard to lay the pin on Starboard, and finding ourselves a little early, we opt to tack under Tarka, and go for a port tack pin-end start. Not a smart move. Tarka quickly roll us, so we tack off on to starboard. Flip back onto Port, and find ourselves in a drag race with Shockwave. A few gusts hit, Simon is learning fast on the mainsheet, dropping the traveller just enough to keep us balanced. We are a bit light on the rail, so everyone thinks heavy. Slowly, slowly, we pull over Shockwave, until we roll them.

Downwind, we opt to go high. Can’t see Tarka or Euphorix, they are so far ahead. Grand Cru bear off below us, and overtake to leeward. We gybe, and have lost out a few crucial boatlengths downwind. Up the beat, we try to minimise our tacking. Are the shifts big enough to make it worthwhile going on? We decide to look at the big picture, and try going out to the right again. Get to the windward mark with everyone else. Nothing gained in any direction, we think!

We go low this time on the run., and pull out big distance on those behind us. Grand Cru not too far ahead, but we can’t catch them.

Up the final short beat. We decide to play the shifts. Grand Cru shadow us, tack for tack, but thankfully not on our wind. Pull out even more distance on those following, and close a bit on Grand Cru, but not enough. Finish a satisfying 4th.

Race 3

OK, it is pin end again! With the wind going light, we go into Dinghy mode, and decide to start close to the pin. Flip on to Port with 45 secs to go, then tack in front of Tarka. Not a good idea, Tarka put their bow under our stern, and force us up over the line. We slow, gybe around the pin and head off on port well behind everyone. Now it is a race to catch up! First beat and run we sail by ourselves, eventually picking up a few places from the back markers. Down the first run, and we close on Shockwave and Genie. We go for a gybe then standard drop. Shockwave & Genie go for float drops. Somehow, they slow and stall out at the leeward mark, and we round neatly inside them.

We opt to pick the shifts up the next beat, which becomes a little difficult as the wind has made it a very one-sided beat. Find ourselves the correct side of a backing wind, and we pull back slowly into the race. Genie just above us, so we hold high to stop them rolling us. Shockwave first appear to have lost out heavily, but then get lifted high enough to lay the mark. Shockwave tack ahead of us on the layline, we go 20 metres more and tack. Shockwave hit a massive header just 20metres from the mark, and bear off wildly below the mark, losing a couple of places in the process. We luff a little, and watch the gust that caught Shockwave pass our bow. We scrape round the windward mark a little slowly, with Genie hard on our heels. Spinnaker up, and we go low. Shockwave locks horns with Genie, and they both go high, vying for clear air down the run. We watch their gybe, then time ours to get inside them at the Leeward finishing mark. A 5th, after thinking all might have been lost on the start!

Race 4

We passed the time waiting for the wind to arrive by hoisting the children up the mast. Will they stay there and spot wind for us, America’s cup-style? We decide to let them down as the wind picks up, and a course is laid.

Light genoa up. We want to go off early to the right, but the pin end looks favoured. We are worried about getting stuck on Starboard tack, so we go for middle of the line on the start, with only Tarka to worry about closer to the committee boat.

The gun goes, we sail on 100 metres then tack over to Port. Tarka tacks with us, and one by one the rest of the fleet follow. We just pull out all the stops and sail fast. Tarka tacks, and we pass clear ahead. They are well short of the layline. We tack on the layline, a perfect call from Eddie once again. We clear the fleet, then bear off around the windward mark in first place.

The kite goes up smoothly, (great work on the bow!), and we head off low. Euphorix & Tarka go high in their own duel. Grand Cru try to tuck in below us, but we get a bit of breeze, and some nifty kite trimming sees us pull ahead. We gybe early for the mark, (earlier than we wanted) and ghost dead downwind to hold on to the inside berth. A smart drop and quick rounding sees us pull out slowly and extend our lead.

The beat is now very one-sided, and we head off as quick as possible on Port. Others behind put in short hitches to windward to get a clear lane. We tack just above the layline, and find ourselves with a bit more breathing space from the rest of the fleet. Euphorix tacks 5 boatlengths behind, and a little to windward. Having got everyone but Tarka to go above the layline we crack off a little, and come in to the mark fast. Kite up, genoa down and we find ourselves able to head for the line, after allowing for the tide. Tarka follow, followed by Euphorix. Have we pulled out enough to allow for our handicap? We think there is milliseconds in it, and our first place was confirmed when we got ashore.

Race 5

The heat is now on. With the wind increasing, we go for the medium number 1. Euphorix hunts down Tarka, so we try to keep clear and sail our own race. We hit the line at full speed, with Euphorix below us and Tarka below them. Tarka pull clear of Euphorix, and in turn Euphorix sail high. Can we roll them? It will be close. We look round to see the fleet return – a general recall! We aim for a mid-line start, and tack off quickly. Tarka, Shockwave and Euphorix went to the pin end, and pull out a few extra boatlengths. We round the windward mark in 4th, and watch the three of them sail high, Shockwave getting caught up in Tarka & Euphorix’s private duel. We opt to go low, and when we gybe for the mark, find ourselves again in the lead. We foot off fast up the next beat, while Tarka and Euphorix head off into a tacking duel. We round the windward mark clear ahead, which we hold down the run to the finish, just enough ahead of Euphorix to take the gun and first place again!

Smiles all round from the crew! Our learning curve is still steep on these fantastic boats. Thank you to our sponsors, Novatech; to Yacht Solutions and Miles Linnington commodore RNC & RAYC for the race management and also to Ian Morrin for organising such a great regatta.

Overall Results: