Hamble River Sailing Club Wednesday Night Series - Pursuit
by Lis Robinson 14 Aug 2015 15:59 BST
12 August 2015
The Cowes Week pursuit race during Hamble River Wednesday Night Series © Trevor Pountain
The Cowes Week Pursuit Race is always an interesting evening as there is an unusual mix of boats not tied up with racing on the island for Cowes Week. This year was no exception and the challenge for RO Lis Robinson was to get a varied fleet away with an anticipated finish time of 20:08. With high water late evening, little commercial traffic and a good NE breeze forecast to pick up from some 10 knots late during the racing there was a range of possible courses. In the end the RO sent the fleet down on a white sail fetch to Royal Southern with a windward leeward cascade back up to Hamble Point and, for once, no competitor radioed in asking for their class course!
Fritha (Bob Allen) was the first boat away in sequence and was returning to the line on the start for the only technical OCS of the evening. A number of other competitors, even the usually impatient Impalas, were less than thrusting on the start line leaving the remainder of the starts clear with Light (Rob Denning) attempting to break their early season record for the most leisurely start. Despite a sail past, one of the large racing multihulls clearly decided the competition was too much and bailed out from joining in. Fritha and Forethought of Gosport (Mike James) led the fleet down to the bottom of the course, down the first run and well into the first beat. However the ever shifty North wind got the better of Fritha as she and Forethought split tacks and Forethought pulled out a large lead in the subsequent wind shift. Needlework (Patrick Pymm & Peter Smith) powered into the lead on the next run whilst Forethought took evasive action as a result of a small commercial vessel straying out of the main shipping channel.
Dino Volante (Vigar, North & Munro) was staffed not only by the usual crew but the next generation of sailors as the Ken Munroe showed his grandchildren how to do it. Unfortunately this did seem to involve a scenic tour of one of the leeward marks and a possible fish trawling exercise with the kite which set them back down the fleet. Cheeky Monkey also brought in the ringers as Felix allowed his Mum to come along and made a valiant attempt at climbing through the fleet. Hugo Boss and rib entourage entertained the committee boat with a demo sail and an impressive cant down Southampton Waters although Alex Thompson was not spotted walking the mast.
The final leg for competitors was a shy kite reach from Stormforce Coaching to the finish and Needlework coasted in some few minutes in advance of the fleet which will no doubt result in a close scrutiny of her handicap. In a full complement to the handicappers the rest of the fleet fought a breath taking finish which kept the recorders on their toes and left all places up for grabs until the very last few seconds. Despite a valiant attempt Forethought couldn't cover the entire fleet and, with a deft bear away for separation, Wight Hare (Derek & Chris Hand) shot into second place by about a half meter with Forethought in third. Cheeky Monkey pulled in a close fourth with Dino Volante right on their heels in fifth. The fleet provided the most exciting finish of the season for those on the committee boat and the reappearance of summer for just the one evening was enjoyed by all.
Wednesday night racing continues next week with the race 6 of the 8 race series and with the cancellation of a couple of the early races there is serious competition for podium places in all classes. 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 www.hambleriversc.org.uk