Bembridge SC Redwing & One-Design late-June Racing
by Mike Samuelson 26 Jun 2023 05:56 BST
24-25 June 2023
At last, champagne conditions with a 12 knot SSE breeze and blazing sunshine made for perfect sailing for the keelboats on Saturday afternoon. Six Redwings and two One Designs assembled at a line laid east of St Helens fort.
The One-Designs arrived early and were sent away first, upwind to Under Tyne, with Britten set to leeward for a two-round sausage. Charles Perry in No 8 and Jos Coad in No 5 started evenly, and were still neck and neck at the windward mark. Charles managed to get away a bit when rounding, and built on his lead to win by a couple of minutes. There was some robust pre-start jousting before they started their second race over the same course. After a level start Jos narrowly led at Under Tyne and on the run, but Charles clawed back on the next beat to win the shortened race by just a couple of lengths.
The Redwings were given a similar course to the One Designs, but with Derek as a leeward mark making a rather longer sausage. After the start the fleet split, with Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II, who had stayed offshore on starboard, leading a tight pack at the windward mark. Joe maintained his lead on the run, but by the end of the first round Rory Morrison in Paroquet and Henry Thorpe in the lovely timber Redwitch were ahead of him, followed by Olav Cole in Redwing, Alastair Speare-Cole helming Avocet, and Ben Stoddart-Stones in Vera. To give time for a decent second race the course was then changed to give a finish on the run back from Under Tyne. Rory just held on to win from Henry and Joe, with a boat length covering these first three. The same course was set for the second race, and a similar pattern emerged, with the same three boats leading the way. By now it was nearing 5 o'clock, and the wind was dying a little, so the race was shortened to just one round. Rory had to duck Joe just before the finish, but the extra tack Joe had to make slowed him enough for Rory to pip him by half a length. Redwitch's offshore tack on the final beat was to no avail, and they finished third, followed by Olav, Alastair and Ben.
The sun was still shining early on Sunday afternoon and the 14 knot SSW'erly provided further champagne sailing; however little did the six Redwings and three One-Designs know that both races would be abandoned following an increase in the breeze and Gannet, helmed by Jim Conybeare-Cross, having Ollie Davenport go overboard between Janson & Ruthven and both classes being diverted to help locate him. However, back to the start of the races; both classes had clean starts with Sea Breeze anchored to the west of Janson.
Start of the Redwing race
Start of the One-Design race
With Garland as the windward mark, the majority of both fleets headed inshore where conditions were slightly less boisterous. Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II rounded first just ahead of Rory Morrison in Paroquet, Mike MacInnes in Avocet and Olav Cole in Redwing; Henry Thorpe in Redwitch was a bit further behind with Jim Conybeare-Cross in Gannet playing catch up after a rather late start. While they headed off to Ruthven, Charles Perry in No 8 One-Design rounded Garland just ahead of Mark Grzegorczyk sailing single handed in No 9, however with the breeze beginning to build Charles decided to play safe and head back into the harbour. This just left Mark and Susie Beart in No 5 to battle it out.
With the race officers, who by that time were anchored just to the west of Garland, in the process of deciding a course change for both fleets to keep them closer inshore, the news came in from Gannet on Ch 77 that Ollie Davenport had gone overboard and assistance was required as they were unable get back to him themselves as a shackle on the jib had come undone. With Sea Breeze heading at best possible speed to the area where Gannet had 'eyes on' Ollie, Rod tasked to assist in a RIB, and all the other Redwings and One Designs diverted to help search, it was not long before he was located and Rod was able to get him onboard the RIB and take him back to the Club none the worse for wear.
With racing abandoned, boats returned back to the harbour - in itself not a walk in the park as the breeze was gusting 21 knots at times.
Lessons Learnt? The importance of wearing either a correctly fitted lifejacket with crutch straps, or a correctly fitted PFD (personal floatation device). Calling immediately on the VHF radio for help, initially to the Committee Boat but with the option of a MayDay call to the Coastguard. Keeping 'eyes on' the casualty; and use of all possible options to get to the casualty as quickly as possible. Finally, read the notes prepared after the MOB workshop held at the Club on Saturday 27th May.