Haven Series Britannia Passage Race to Lowestoft
by Neale Fuller 5 Jul 2011 06:53 BST
2 July 2011
Sunny skies but no wind greeted the 18 boats on Saturday morning for the Britannia race. With the tide against them some boats did not cross the start line until 30 minutes after the start.
Soon the wind increased to 4 knots coming from a north easterly direction. Rainbow hoisted their spinnaker hoping to gain advantage. Berserker, Demijon, Morning Star and Jabberwock went along Felixstowe beach while Eclipse, Bule gila Bigwig and Four Broke kept further out. Berserker pulled away inshore but had to tack out at Orford Ness losing some ground to Bule Gila, Bigwig and Four Broke. Again Berserker and Four Broke kept inshore but had to tack out at Waberswick.
Bigwig, Eclipse and Bule Gila kept high and soon the wind increased to 20 knots and shifted making it a beat to Lowestoft. This meant headsail changes for some and regret at not having reefing lines in for others. The sea became very bumpy when the tide changed.
Four Broke was the first boat in followed by Bigwig and Berserker.
Overall Results:
1st Eclipse, D. Cowan
2nd Stolen Kiss, R. Mower
3rd Rainbow, R. Farrance & J Hale
4th Bule Gila, M. Fuller
5th Demijon II, D & E Card
6th Bigwig 2, J & J Harding