Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club Boxing Day Scramble 2017
by Mike Dixon 27 Dec 2017 16:13 GMT
26 December 2017
Seven boats came to the line for the for CCYC's annual Boxing Day Scramble to work off the previous day's excess. The fleet comprised an RS Elite, a Sonar and five cruisers ranging in size from 30 to 44 feet.
The Christmas Day gales were gone (although that probably deterred a few potential competitors), the wind had moderated during the night, the sun was shining and a great weather window opened up with winds forecast WSW 10-20 knots for the late morning and early afternoon. Before the start the fancy dress was judged with the clowns on the Catalina 320 "Luella" taking the prize.
The two keelboats led off the line on the 7 mile course with Phil Wright's RS Elite "Right Time Too" making the best start and gradually extending the lead over Barry Byham in the Sonar "Jenny" all the way around the course which contained a small loop off Cowes Green for the benefit of any spectators out for their Boxing Day walk. That was followed by a run to West Ryde Middle and a beat back to the harbour mouth. On the final leg back to the club Barry went north of the breakwater reducing the lead to 65 seconds but Phil held on to win by 8 seconds on corrected time.
In the cruiser division things did not go as the race officer planned when the wind off Cowes dropped to 5 knots at one point resulting in the smaller boats going backwards on the tide for a while. The first cruiser to finish was El Tiburon, a Swan 44, sailed by Andy Armstrong and she saved her time on the remainder of the cruisers.
The two smallest boats were forced to retire in order to get back before the mulled wine and mince pies ran out! At the prize-giving Phil Wright was presented with the De Kerbrech trophy. After the prize-giving there was a charity auction in aid of Sailability which raised over £800.
Overall Results:
| | | | | Finish time | Corrected time |
|---|
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Class | Owner / Helm | Hrs | Mins | Secs | Hrs | Mins | Secs |
|---|
| 1 | 43 | Right Time Too | RS Elite | Phil Wright | 12 | 29 | 53 | 01 | 26 | 01 |
| 2 | 737 | Jenny | Sonar | Barry Byham | 12 | 30 | 58 | 01 | 26 | 09 |
| 3 | 8147 | El Tiburon | Swan 44 | Andy Armstrong | 12 | 56 | 14 | 01 | 52 | 24 |
| 4 | 1403 | Fleur De Sel | Beneteau First 31.7 | Karen Harris | 13 | 06 | 03 | 02 | 01 | 23 |
| 5 | 8424 | Jillian | Oceanis 40C | Pete Ward | 13 | 04 | 09 | 02 | 04 | 31 |
| RET | 2714 | Merlin | Nautina 30 | Mark Hickmott | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| RET | 1030 | Luella | Catalina 320 | Ian Murray | - | - | - | - | - | - |