JOG Cowes to Yarmouth Race 2006 - 31.7 Class Report
by Andy Phelps 16 May 2006 15:54 BST
The JOG Cowes to Yarmouth race saw five 31.7s racing under Class 5 on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day.
With an 8-10 knot South-Westerly breeze, the 31.7s were all sailing away from the start line to avoid being swept over early by the tidal rip at Gurnard.
At the gun, Whistler got the best start, closely followed by Electron with both boats hoisting cleanly. Electra and Tai Pan misjudged the tide and ended up battling inshore to avoid being swept past the ODM. The crew of Sonic Boom, expecting a windward start, were heard to call “rig the spinnaker sheets!” as they approached the line.
Whistler and Electron elected to sail the rhumb line to NE Ryde Middle. Electra and Tai Pan sailed to the North of Ryde Sands to get maximum benefit from the tide, while Sonic Boom, boxed in by other Class 5 boats, was forced to sail the rhumb line.
The Northern route proved favourable, with Electra managing to round ahead of the other 31.7s, followed by Whistler, Electron, Tai Pan and Sonic Boom.
With the reach across to Burgess Salmon mainly given over to a game of “spot the dolphin” the fleet positions remained unchanged for the next rounding.
On the beat up to Leep Spit, the fleet again split, with Electra, Tai Pan and Sonic Boom opting to sails south of the Bramble Bank, while Whistler and Electron sailed to the North.
The Southern route proved favourable for Electra despite the unexpected adverse tide, however, the following boats sailed into a wind hole right on the Bramble Bank. So it was Electra that rounded Leep Spit in first place followed by Whistler.
Again benefiting from her lead, Electra managed to carry her spinnaker for the majority of the leg across to Gurnard Ledge, before being forced to drop by the wind increasing and backing which meant the rest of the fleet had to use whites only.
Whistler fought hard for the remainder of the race but was unable to catch Electra who finished first on the water in JOG Class 5 and first in the 31.7 Class Extract.
31.7 Results Class Extract
1st Electra GBR 8198T Andy Phelps
2nd Whistler GBR 7592T Mark Lloyd
3rd Sonic Boom GBR 9563R Simon Brady
4th Tai Pan GBR 6991T David Jobson
5th Electron GBR 7016T Paul Harding
31.7 Results in Class 5:
5th Electra GBR 8198T Andy Phelps
10th Whistler GBR 7592T Mark Lloyd
14th Sonic Boom GBR 9563R Simon Brady
16th Tai Pan GBR 6991T David Jobson
19th Electron GBR 7016T Paul Harding