Hamble River Sailing Club Wednesday Night Series A - Day 6
by Lis Robinson 12 Jun 2015 21:27 BST
4 June 2015
Wednesday night saw a large number of competitors huddled on the dock side, heads together, and whispered comments of the "will she / won't she" variety. The weather forecast was showing a fairly consistent base level of 20 knots but with really big gusts and winds anticipated increasing up to 35 knots in mid evening.
Race Officer Kathy Smalley was not aided by the demise of Bramblemet so establishing the actual conditions on the water came down to the old fashioned approach of going out for a look. With the first high tide at 18.30 the sea state was good. The gusts, whilst strong, were not unreasonable and the sunshine was glorious. On that basis the committee boat took up station at Bald Head, hoisted flag yankee (lifejackets required!) and went into race operation mode.
The forecasts definitely put off all but a hardy couple in the XOD fleet but overall some twenty boats ventured out. It seems for most of the Wednesday night series this year the wind has come from the SW which limits the availability of marks but in a full switch the wind went round to the NE at about 75 degrees allowing slightly more variety.
The fleet were despatched across to Mark (yes it is actually a permanent mark which is called Mark!)with varying leeward marks to keep each class out of the main channel due to shipping movements, followed by reaches of varying lengths according to classes and then windward leeward laps with a reach back to Hamble Point to finish.
The XOD fleet suffered an immediate retirement as X21 Satu (Andy Hamlett) broke a small pin and lost control of his mainsheet right on the start line. Shri (Ben McGrane) continued straight into a kite hoist on the line and took the XOD result uncontested to maintain a very clear lead in the series with second and third place overall apparently up for grabs by most of the competitors in the one design class.
In Class 3 Applejack (Craig Cossar & Natalie Gray) took a bullet with Fritha (Bob Allen) and Forethought of Gosport (Mike James) in second and third place respectively although all three boats finished within a very close spread and with no differences regardless of rating system used.
Similarly in Class 1 Wee Bear (Chudziak, Horner, Malas) took line honours and first place with Light (Rob Denning) in second and La Nef (John Noe) in third, despite a stalwart attempt to hold his kite on the last reach which didn't quite come off.
Things were slight different within Class 2. Polly (Meakins & Cudmore) held off Mist (Ross & Undraa Elliston) to take first under Club handicap but swapped positions under NHC whilst Bambella (Jenny Shawcroft and Pete Halliday) broke out the champagne on getting 3rd under both systems as it is the first time they have been placed.
With just two races remaining in the B series in all three classes anything could happen as the leading boats are all very close. One slip or outstanding performance could change everything - watch this space.
Wednesday night racing continues next week but get this date in your diary - BIG WEDNESDAY- is coming 24th June. COME ONE COME ALL - COME BIG AND SMALL. Get your boat out on the water, even for just one race, and get a friend or two to come and try out Wednesday night racing.
Racing is free for all members of Hamble River Sailing Club with annual membership costing less than many other series entry fees. Details of the full activities, training courses and events of the Club are on the Hamble River SC website, www.hambleriversc.org.uk