IRM David Diehl Trophy hosted by the Royal Thames Yacht Club
by Eddie Mays 2 May 2007 09:05 BST
28-29 April 2007
The Royal Thames Y.C. hosted the second event of the IRM Class season. The David Diehl Trophy is contested over four regattas throughout the summer. The first of these was held over the weekend of 28th & 29th April and attracted a fleet of Farr 45s. Saturday morning saw the first race sailed in a reasonable land breeze and Shaun Frohlich's 'Exabyte' took the first win.
With the wind fading Race 2 was shortened at the top mark and Nick Lutte' 'Shockwave' was the first across the line. There followed a short period when it seemed likely that the sea breeze might come in from the Needles Channel. However the Northeasterly re-established itself and in the next race Jerry Otter's 'Werewolf' went left up the first beat and rounded the top mark just ahead of 'Exabyte' & 'Alice II' (Simon Henning). Although they all chose different lines to the bottom mark the positions stayed the same but it was slow sail handling on 'Exabyte' that made the greatest difference, and dropped her to 4th. Having finished 2nd in the first two races Robert Lutener & Martin Elwood's 'HL – Cutting Edge' then improved to win the final race of the day ahead of 'Werewolf'.
Sunday morning saw another light Northeasterly and, with a strong Westerly going tide, the top mark was offset down tide to achieve a reasonable beat. 'HL – Cutting Edge' reached the mark first, rounded and then ground to a halt as the wind died. Everyone who didn't gybe immediately and go off to the left was sucked away with the tide. Progress downwind was particularly painful as the wind came & went. At one stage the boats on the right picked up a Westerly zephyr but in the end as the boats approached the bottom mark, and the finish, it was 'Exabyte' who took the gun with 'Alice II' recording her second 2nd place of the weekend.
After deliberation, and with no sign of a useable breeze returning, the Race Officers had no alternative but to return the fleet to harbour.
As a footnote the Association have now asked the club to consider amending the SIs to include a minimum wind clause. The series continues in a fortnight's time on the 12th & 13th May.