Wayfarer European Championships at Weymouth - Day 2

For Day 2 of the 2014 Wayfarer European Championships, two races were scheduled. However, to make the most of the excellent sailing conditions, the Race Officer set three - Races 3, 4 and 5 of the Championships. The reason for this extra race was to prepare for a pessimistic wind forecast for the rest of the week when racing may have to be cancelled due to lack of wind.

As the morning started with little wind, racing was postponed for two hours, giving sailors the chance to have a chat or even a second breakfast. Sure enough, at midday clouds began to gather over the land and the wind increased from the west, shifting slightly north and south of west throughout the afternoon.

Conditions dictated that all races would take place in Portland Harbour where there is more wind than in Weymouth Bay. It is also a steadier wind than outside and the tide is negligible. In warm temperatures, such as today, the breeze comes in in the afternoon when the wind speed gradually increases. Today it reached 12 knots during Race 4.

In Race 3, at the first mark Will McGrath and Sam Woolner came first in Second Childhood 3; Martin and Donna Collen came second in Pieces of Eight and Ian Richards and Adam Light were third in Ooh Oh.

Report from Mark and Rachael Hartley

Racing was due to start at 11 o'clock, but due to wind conditions this was postponed. The breeze was very light and coming off the land but the weather was very warm averaging 27 degrees with clear blue skies. This allowed Weymouth to heat up very quickly and cloud to form above Weymouth town, enabling the sailors to recover from the night before's antics!

An hour and a half later the sea breeze filled in and the race officer sent the fleet out into Portland harbour as it was believed there would be more wind there than in Weymouth Bay. The Sailing Instructions were amended to allow three races as the rest of the week looked very susceptible to light wind.

Race 3 started about 1pm. The wind had filled in to a steady force 2 with the race officer getting us away first time. All boats started cleanly and no boats were disqualified from this start. Newcomers Will McGarth and Sam Woolner in Second Childhood III took the lead followed closely by Pieces of Eight of Martin Collen and Donna Collen with Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend coming third in The Poacher.

The wind picked up to a steady force 3 in the fourth race allowing many crews to stretch their legs which was very welcome. The starboard side of the beat had paid all day, but the port end of the line was favoured so many of the top runners started there but were unable to tack across and go up the starboard side of the beat, which meant there were a lot of new faces at the top of the fleet at the windward mark. Subsequently there were many place changes and the race ended with Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend in first, Liam McGrath and Sue McGarth coming second and Brian Lamb with his crew Sam Pygail in third.

For the fifth race the wind increased to force 4 with the start line being true which meant the competitors starting right across the start line and port and starboard end boats converged at the windward mark together. There were many turns done just after the windward mark. The race officer had set a fantastic set of reaches and boats jostled for places all the way along the first triangle. Boats started to spread out up the second beat eventually. The top three boats ended up as Mike McNamara and Simon Townsend in first, followed by Niels Alslev and Anders Pjetursson in second then Roger Challis and Mark Johnston in third.

Results after Day 2: