Plymouth Sound Spring Series racing - Week 1
by Andrew Sinclair 12 Apr 2018 16:19 BST
7-8 April 2018
Last weekend was the first major weekend of racing in Plymouth Sound this season, and for those on the water it didn't disappoint. The Highwater Sail loft team were out enjoying both days and can report back!
Saltash Sailing Club Tamar Packaging Spring Series
Saturday afternoon saw the first afternoon of the Saltash Sailing Club Spring Series with one round the cans race in the Sound, in a shifty North Westerly wind. Andy was out racing on Dazcat 10m 'Belladona', Dan on Dazcat 1150 'Bare Necessities' and Aaron on the J70 'Waterjet'. The multihulls saw a three-horse race with Simon Baker's Dazcat 1495 'Hissy Fit' doing a horizon job and taking the win, leaving Belladona and Bare Necessities to a battle royale. With many place changes the battle was intense, but her new North Sails transformed the 20 year old boat into a light airs flyer giving her the pace to stay ahead at the finish.
In the IRC division, Prima 38 'Alfresco' flew into the horizon but not far enough, with the small boats showing it's not all about size! Neil Trathen in the Laser 28 'Elusive' used his well known ability to steer to his first win of the season knocking the nippy J70 of Steve Northmore in 2nd and the Prima 38 in 3rd, with the scores on the door though the top 3 were only separated by 41 seconds! Watch this space! In NHC it was a similar story, with Adam James's J80 'Joie de Vivre' showing again what he can do to take the win with a dominant performance.
Plym Yacht Club Gin Series
Sunday dawned bright for the second round of the Plymouth Gin Series and at the start time the wind gods seemed to be eschewing the forecast and providing a plentiful 10 knots of breeze! Andy was sailing on the brand new Seascape 24, 'Nautibouys' launched for the first time that morning and Aaron was on the Mumm 36 'Sunburst'. Both boats made great use of their Code Zeros off the line to see the best sailing of the morning on the way to the breakwater. But it was a different story outside the sound as the fleet were becalmed and faced a patchy drift around the course, with the lead boats painfully watching the sea breeze fill in astern and allow the smaller boats to hoist spinnakers first. A gorgeous downwind leg projected the fleet back to the finish with Pete Wanstall powering to claim the line honours win. On NHC handicap it was Calvados, the Charisma 22 that sailed to victory though with their sharp performance as the smallest boat.
Well done to all Highwater customers & Plymouth racers on a great weekend of racing!