31.7s in the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series - Week 2

Race 2 of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series saw the 31.7s racing under IRC4. An hour before the start the wind was a promising 10-14 knots with the sun shining, however, by the time the 31.7s came to start it had picked up to a blustery 20+ knots with the Solent just starting to kick up a bit of a chop.

Judging the strong windward going tide well, Manau had a near-perfect committee approach and a great place in the front row with clear air. Electra and Tai Pan starting just to leeward of Manaru suffered badly in the dirty air and tacked off when clear lanes became available.

While Manaru worked hard to consolidate her lead on the first beat, Electra and Tai Pan exchanged close crossing tacks until Tai Pan correctly judged a favourable wind shift and managed to get a 20 boat length lead on Electra.

Manaru rounded the windward mark first, followed by Tai Pan and then Electra with Whistler hard on her heels. The rhumb line for this leg of the course was straight over the Bramble Bank, however, all boats in the fleet opted to pass close to the Bramble Post and not risk a grounding. Once past the Bramble Post, Tai Pan and Electra managed to overhaul Manaru by sailing a slightly higher angle and were ahead by the leeward mark.

The next windward leg saw a significant separation of the fleet, and when the 31.7s converged at the windward mark, Electra had closed the gap on Tai Pan down to 4 boat lengths.

The next leg was a tight spinnaker reach, and in the blustery conditions many of the boats were broaching. During one gust Tai Pan broached allowing Electra to sail through and gain the lead. Electra rounded the leeward mark in front with Tai Pan just three boat lengths behind. There then followed a tense beat with the two boats sailing neck and neck all the way to the finish even when the ship that was anchored across the course looked threateningly close.

Electra just managed to hold her place in front and crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Tai Pan. However with Tai Pan's slightly favourable rating she gained the victory on corrected time by 3 seconds.

Well done to the crew of Tai Pan for a hard fought victory.

Week 2 Results: