Squib North Lincs Invitation event at Humber Yawl Club
by David West 18 Jul 2008 23:04 BST
17 July 2008
The North Lincs Invitation event took place at the second attempt, the previous date having fallen victim to gale force winds. The weather this time was a little better with a Force 4-5 westerly, wind over tide making for quite a steep chop particularly in the shipping channel.
Because of the conditions and as few of the visitors had sailed on the Humber before, none having previously sailed a Squib, a navigation race of about 6 miles was set to go around the Island rather than around the cans.
Racing was close with all boats being within a hundred yards of each other rounding the Island which constituted the windward mark. The reach through the Island channel was a procession but on the run home boats spread out looking for the shallows and eddies as they worked their way back to the club against the tide. It was a spectacular ride and view as boats surfed under spinnaker down the steep chop, the first 3 boats being overlapped for most of the run.
Magic Flute 805 eventually won by 30 yards after 6 miles of racing from Rebel 234 which was overlapped with Emma 431 on the line. Alston 837 and Privateer 741 were not far behind. Wonderful racing.
The beaming smile on the faces of our visitors back in the haven was testament to their claims that they had thoroughly enjoyed the sail and one crew is now serious about joining the fleet.