Bembridge Sailing Late August Keelboat Racing
by Mike Samuelson 1 Sep 2020 05:37 BST
24-31 August 2020
Monday
Seven Redwings and three One-Designs headed off to Seaview on Monday for the second day of the SVYC annual Regatta. However, having tested the conditions (SW F5 with wind against tide offshore), the Toogoods in Tara and the McCues in Musicus both sailing only two up decided to return to Bembridge. The course was similar to the day before although for the Redwings it was only twice round. James Wilson helming Blue Jay and Joe Robertson (two up with his Mum) in Red Gauntlet II were the early leaders and proved too consistent so took the first two places. Third some way back was Rory Morrison in Skua, with Jonathan N-L in Snowgoose and Andrew Eddy in Plover following behind.
Set the same course, No 8 One-Design helmed by Jos Coad and No 10 helmed by Hugh Doherty enjoyed some close racing with the former coming out ahead after two rounds. Martin Bonham in No 2 missed the timing at the start so was always trailing the others however he persevered and completed the course in the difficult conditions with a grin on his face.
Tuesday - N over A - Storm Frances!
Wednesday
No Redwings. However three races in the Jubilee final for the four most successful One-Design helms this season sailed to the north of St Helens Fort for a bit of protection in the WSW F5 breeze. The first race saw Jos Coad in No 8 and D Orange in No 12 tacking off straight after the start with Hugh Doherty in No 10 and Russ Fowler in No 1 continuing down the other side of the windward leeward course between Drum and Britten. No 8 came out best with No 10 not far behind. No further place changes looked likely so they finished on the run after one and a half rounds.
At the start of the second race, No 8 again tacked first but misjudged the space to windward so almost caused a pile up with No 10 and No 1 both quite vocal! However, with no protests registered, No 8 went on to win ahead of No 10. In the third and final race, Jos just needed not to come last and the Jubilee Trophy was his. In the event, it all went wrong (or alternatively he decided to make amends for the previous race!) and not only did No 10 win but No 8 also came last which meant that the retiring Class Captain, Hugh Doherty, won the trophy with four and three quarter points to Jos's five and a half. Russ Fowler was third with nine points and D Orange was fourth with 10 points.
Thursday - N over A again!
Friday
After days of biblical weather including 75 mph winds at the Needles, ten Bembridge keel boats ventured out of the harbour at 7.30am into a Westerly Force 2-3 with 4/5 in prospect. Five Redwings started the Race at 8am from Garland to Old Church (P), Tara(P), Garland (S), Morton (S) finishing at Garland. Colin Samuelson in Toucan got ahead of James Wilson in Harlequin and was first round Old Church whilst Tom Preston in Blue Jay brought up the rear behind Snowgoose and Paroquet. By mid way the first two boats were very much in contention and a slow rounding of Garland by Colin allowed James to nearly overtake. Unfortunately Snowgoose went to JJ (originally posted but then replaced by G before the 5 minute sequence) and retired. Paroquet and Blue Jay closed up as they rounded G for the first time, but by the finish Harlequin had edged two boat lengths ahead of Toucan and Blue Jay was just ahead of Paroquet. Very close racing in beautiful conditions.
Five BOD crews sailed the same course except that Morton was replaced by Fitzwilliam. Jos Coad (No 8) sailed an outstanding race and was leading throughout albeit there were changes down the fleet. Sarah Marshall (No 7) finished second. The last three boats came in with a photo finish which kept the Race Committee on their toes. However the fleet seemed agreeable with the official tally of 3rd Penny Stanley (No 9), 4th Martin Bonham (No 2) and 5th Russell Fowler (No 1). Fortunately all boats returned to the harbour happily before the tide ran out!
Saturday
Eight Redwings which went down to seven just before the start of their race when Tara headed back to the harbour having decided that conditions were too bubbly for her crew. In view of the cold F5 Northerly breeze (the air temperature was a cool 11 degrees Celsius) and lumpy conditions it was wisely decided to set a short course from Garland to Britten 3 times round finishing at Pepe. It was not long before Harlequin helmed by James Wilson, Rosetta helmed by James Tate, Snowgoose helmed by Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore and Skua helmed by Rory Morrison split off as the front group. After some close racing in the marginal conditions, Harlequin finished 15 seconds ahead of Rosetta who held off Skua to finish 1 second ahead.
The One Designs meanwhile had a similar course but with one lap less than the Redwings. There were originally four planning to race but No 5 retired before getting to the start line. Although Russ Fowler in No 1 and Hugh Doherty in No 10 were never that far apart, it was the latter who crossed the line 30 seconds ahead. Alexander Ross in No 8 was third just under a minute later. Both fleets finished at the same time with approximately 45 minutes of racing in uncomfortable cold conditions which the Race Committee felt that was a long enough!
Sunday
After considerable discussion and a recce of the conditions outside the harbour by the Redwing Class Captain (and others), it was decided to go racing. Ten Redwings and six One-Designs therefore rigged up and headed towards Under Tyne where Sea Breeze set up a line using E (SpyAlarms) as the pin. After a 5 minute postponement, the Redwings got off to a good start in the distinctly lumpy in the F5 Northerly.
Start of the Redwing Race
James Tate in Avocet was first round Janson and held unto the lead ahead of James Bunbury in Blue Jay and James Wilson in Harlequin to Garland, then Britten, Pepe and Drum. However following a course change to take advantage of the improving conditions, Harlequin managed to get ahead on the run back to Pepe and held onto the lead on the beat back to Drum and finished 20 seconds ahead after the final run to Pepe. Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II was third and Tom Scott helming Plover was fourth. The four One-Designs meanwhile had a similar but shorter course.
Start of the One-Design Race
Unfortunately (for D anyway) No 12 misheard the Race Officer's broadcast about being able to pass either side of the Fort which allowed James Beart in No 5 to get ahead by a considerable margin (four and a half minutes at the finish), however she did manage to just hold off Jos in No 10 who finished 15 seconds behind her. Martin Bonham in No 2 was fourth, 13 seconds later.
All in all, an excellent morning's racing made all the better as the sun was out for most of it.
Monday
After a week of strong winds, the big question was whether there was enough breeze to race. Six Redwings decided that there probably was and the One-Designs decided there wasn't! the start just outside the harbour entrance at Pepe at least they did not have to go far; in the event there was a gentle F2 Easterly which meant a dead beat to Spy Alarms off Under Tyne. Keeping options open the course was initially three times round, however after the first round the windward mark was changed to Garland and twice was enough.
Halfway through the first sequence the breeze backed to the NE, so there was a short postponement to see where it would settle. As is so often the way, it went back to the original direction and no changes were required. With a few seconds to go before the start there was a lot of shouting at the pin end of the line and although no one was over, a couple of boats circled round onto port tack including Toucan helmed by Colin Samuelson who was flying a protest flag (against Harlequin helmed by Johnny Raymond).
Start of the Redwing Race
All six boats headed inshore to get out of the tide; Plover helmed by Tom Scott and Red Gauntlet II helmed by Joe Robertson were the early leaders but Toucan, always hard to beat in light airs, was a very close third at the windward mark and having moved ahead on the run to Pepe never looked like being caught on the loop to Garland and back. Red Gauntlet II and Plover had a good tussle with the latter coming out just ahead to take second place. Mike Toogood in Tara was a safe fourth with Harlequin fifth and Blue Jay sixth.
It's hoped that a small contingent of Redwing sailors from Poole will be coming over next weekend to have some racing in a Bembridge Redwing. Should be fun!
More photos at flic.kr/s/aHsmQu25vT