Buzz Open at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

The Buzzes enjoy conditions at Felixstowe Ferry © Stuart Bailey

The Buzz Class travelled to Felixstowe Ferry sailing club for racing together with the ISOs and Laser 4000s on the 9th-10th June 2007. A local Buzz 942 (Olly Love/ J Cox) was easily persuaded to join them.

The briefing was very informative and advised the competitors to allow 45 minutes to sail out to the racing area in a force 2-3 against the tide. Care was taken to avoid the sandy bar out into the North Sea, the latter being calm and flat.

The first race was a quick 2 lap course to settle us in unknown waters, Buzz 763 (Stuart Bailey/ Zoe Noble) pushed out 942 at the start, but 947 (Bob and Isabel Joyce) and 942 pointed higher and kept their speed to edge ahead of 763. The next challenge was a moving wing mark! The tide was taking it past the windward mark! The powerboat decided to move the wing mark to its correct position to prevent confusion for the other fleets, which meant that the Buzzes had to bear away to the windward mark as the wing mark was moving!! The Buzz fleet rounded it in quick succession as they entered the downwind leg. Buzz 947 and 942 covered each other down to the leeward buoy, allowing 763 to inch ahead. They were still close on the second up wind leg, but got mixed up with the Laser 4000’s on the following downwind leg allowing Buzz 763 achieve first position.

Bob and Isabel Joyce in 947 started the second race with perfection, followed by 585 (Mike and Josh Preater) and 942. Buzz 942 and 947 headed into the tide, whereas Buzz 585 and 763 went across the tide. A tacking battle occurred as 585 covered 763, but 763 managed to break free and headed into the tide to join the other two Buzzes. Buzz 947 rounded the windward mark first quickly followed by 763. The second challenge of the day was to work out the tide, no gybes were needed to the leeward gate, but a judgement of the downwind angle compared to the strong tide across the course. 763 inched ahead for their second win after a battle with 947 who came second.

Following a few adjustments to the course to accommodate the changing wind direction race 3 got going, with all fleets having a clean start, a first for the day!! Bailey and Noble claimed their third win, Bob and Isabel Joyce secured a second and Mike and Josh Preater third.

The club hosted a delicious meal for all the competitors and a live band provided the entertainment. Many drinks were consumed . . . and then it was morning!!

An early start on Sunday for a 10.30 race was greeted with very little wind and a strong tide. The race officer journeyed out past the sandy bar to measure 1.5 mph of wind and decided to cancel the days racing as it was unlikely to fill in.

A big thank you to Felixstowe Ferry sailing club for hosting a very enjoyable and successful weekend both on and off the water.

Alternative Report from Josh Preater:

Some of the buzz fleet met at Felixstowe Ferry for their last open meeting before the eurocup in La Rochelle.

The first race got underway with 763 (Stuart and Zoe) first off the line closely followed by 942 (Olly and J Cox), 947 (Bob and Isabel) and 585 (Mike and Josh) misjudged the tide and crossed the line slightly behind the other two, by the end of the first beat it was 763, 942, 947 and 585. Going down the first run 947 managed to overtake 942 and go into second place. This remained the order for the remainder of the race.

The second race got underway in slightly light conditions and this time it was 947 first off the line followed by 585, 947 was first round the windward mark followed by 763. Going down the run 585 and 942 had a battle with 585 just going through the leward gate before 942. Up the next beat 763 manged to pull into first place and crossed the line with his next bullet and 947 managed to get another second.

For the final race of the day 942 decided the wind was not looking promising and went back but unluckily for him the wind did pick up to get a decent race in. Off the line was stuart with great boat speed and he was first to the windward mark where he increased his lead down the next run, at the end of the third race stuart claimed his last bullet of the day.

The social that evening was provided by the club with a curry and a live band. The evening was spent relaxing and keeping fingers crossed for good weather for the next day.

The following day the fleet woke up to no wind and a strong tide which didn't look promising and this held on so at half past twelve the race officer decided to abandon the days racing. The buzz fleet would like to thank felixstowe ferry for providing an excellent open meeting and hope to go back again some time.

Overall Results: