International Canoes at POSH - Paignton Open for Single Handers - Day 1
by Chris Hampe 8 May 2016 08:19 BST
7-8 May 2016
A day of false starts and splutters at Paignton. The Canoes are the second class to start after the Blazes but we are starting with a mixed fleet consisting of everything that does not have a bowsprit and is not a Blaze. This is a mix of a Farr 3.7, D Zeros, Europes, Phantoms and the obligatory mix of rig sizes they throw up on a heavy lump of fibreglass called a Laser.
Now these Lasers are a naughty lot and our first attempt at starting brought out the general recall flag. I think this is a first for Canoes but the Lasers seemed quite used to it so it must have been their fault. As the sequence restarted the Blaze fleet had made it to the windward mark. Unfortunately they seemed to have used up all the wind which resulted in their race being abandoned whilst the rest of us were postponed.
Eventually the wind decided to blow again and by the time we started it was just enough to venture towards the end of the plank. The Canoes were spread along the line with Chris Hampe at the pin above Gaz, John Ellis in the middle with Robin Wood and Phill Robin towards the committee boat end.
Robin Wood was first to blink and tack to port followed by John, Chris and Gaz. The wind went a little lighter and it was John Ellis who lifted nicely in the middle of the course to lead at the windward mark. Robin would sail through his lee on the reach that wasn't a reach and as we hit mark 2 of the trapezoid, Robin had a 3 boat length lead over John. Gaz was third with Chris within a boat length as they charged either side of a Blaze on the rounding.
The run was a case of trying to get as deep as possible and gain as much speed from the slight swell. Chris and Gaz were fighting for third with John closing on Robin in the lead.
The leeward mark saw the Canoes mixing it in with the Blaze fleet. Robin was able to pull ahead and extend his lead and Gaz passed John on the next beat as Chris lost distance being bounced to the wrong side.
The final run saw the wind die again. Did the Blazes use it all up again? At the back of the fleet Phil Robin had caught up with Chris Hampe. Unconfirmed rumours have that Gaz passed Robin Wood in light airs for the lead.
Of course in light airs we all know Robin has the luck of the gods and with boats wallowing in a slight swell three guns from the committee boat gave us all a day to forget.