Crouch Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 3

Sixteen boats enjoyed fantastic sunshine in the third race in the 8 race series. Zora, Rupert Brown's Contessa 32, helmed by Rosemary Prior, in local handicap Class 3 got the most fantastic start absolutely bang on the line on the North Shore side of the river, and stayed on the pace for a good proportion of the race. The course for Class three took them up to Cliff and Canewdon then back to Number 9 before heading up to Cliff Reach.

The Southerly wind had enough West in it to give the class a beat up river, which saw Harvest Moon leading the class. Mantra, Phillip Harbott's 101 crewed by son Charlie got a fairly poor start, but then got lifted through the fleet and this gave them second place at Number 15, as others lost out when tacking.

The fleet continued to race up towards Canewdon, but unfortunately Goosander, the T24 owned by Dave and Nina Smith got a big riding turn and retired, having to drop their genoa to sort it out. Aragon, the Holding's Beneteau 33.7 got through Mantra on the beat between Cliff and Canewdon. The fleet reached and ran down to Number 9 and no-one chose to fly a spinnaker in gusts up to 23 knots. Rode Grutt owned by Mark Lyons did pop their asymmetric at the wharf, and did pull up towards the fleet for a while.

The fleet beat back up to Cliff Reach; Harvest Moon staying ahead until the last few hundred metres, where the higher rated Aragon finally got through them to take line honours. Mantra were third in with Rupert's Zora close behind. Bella Vela got through Grace and Danger on the last leg of the course to take fifth on the water, with Grace and Danger sixth, and Rode Grutt last on the water.

On corrected time, Paul Drew's Harvest Moon took first, with Aragon second and Bella Vela owned by Andy Heel, third.

The Hunter 707s had three racing and Beaver Hunter owned by Paul Gray got the best start. They went down river, and up the Roach twice and Matt Rainbow's Marlin and Baby Beluga chased Beaver Hunter hard. Around Greenward before entering the Roach for the first time, Marlin broke free of Baby Beluga helmed by Nick Tressider, and caught up Beaver Hunter. However, Marlin suffered a main sheet breakage and the time spent fixing it allowed Beaver Hunter to get far enough ahead to be safe. After a beat up to Cliff Reach, the fleet were shortened through the line, with Beaver Hunter a good distance ahead of Marlin, with Baby Beluga third.

In Class One, Double Trouble the SJ 320 owned by Duncan and Beccy Haley got a good start, with Digger Harden's Stampede to weather. Inn Spirit, the highest rated boat in the class soon took the lead on the water. Sapphire owned by Martin and Kirsty Brooks got into second on the water with Double Trouble third. Stampede, the Mustang 30 owned by Digger Harden were close on their heels in fourth with Tumblehome II owned by Charlie Ball, Bryn Fisher and Julian Fitzgerald and helmed by Bob Tubbs fifth.

After a beat to Cliff Reach having been twice up the Roach, Inn Spirit were clear winners on the water and on corrected time. Stampede were close enough to both Sapphire and Double Trouble to take second on corrected time. Sapphire were second on the water and third on corrected time, with Tumblehome II also able to save their time on Double Trouble to take fourth.