First Friday evening racing of 2018 for the Bembridge SC Keelboats
by Mike Samuelson 25 Jun 2018 05:53 BST
22-24 June 2018
The first Friday evening racing of 2018 at Bembridge © Mike Samuelson
After last weekend's very breezy conditions, the lighter airs this weekend brought a welcome change. That said, on Saturday patience was key as was a bit of luck and Sunday the breeze arrived too late.
Friday evening was the first of the Friday Evening Challenge races. Designed to provide an incentive for getting the Redwings and One-Designs out to the Under Tyne moorings ready for the weekend's racing. Often cancelled because of no takers, it was encouraging to see two Redwings and three One-Designs heading out of the harbour to race. The latter, using standard jibs rather than genoas, went off first and made slow progress to Garland and then even slower progress to Ruthven in the light SSW'erly breeze. Penny Stanley with her husband Mark in No 9 found themselves in front and despite Jos Coad in No 8 and William Bland with Anna Row in No 12 doing their best to make up the lost ground, they held their nerve and finished fifty seconds ahead.
Although Mike Toogood in Tara had the better start of the two Redwings, Andrew Eddy in Plover rounded Garland and Ruthven in front and by covering on the beat back to the line at E made sure of victory. A glorious evening's sail.
Saturday morning was forecast for Northerly but variable breezes; and they were pretty close to being spot on! The six Redwings started their first race of two on time (10:00), albeit somewhat sedately with most well back off the line.
Set two rounds of a fairly short course in case what breeze there was dropped away or changed significantly, progress to Janson was slow; Meri Benham in Paroquet, Andrew Eddy in Plover and Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence rounded quite close and began the run to an inflatable leeward buoy that had been set to the south of E. As they closed on the inflatable, the breeze dropped and veered 180º so the final leg back to the line became a run rather than a beat.
Although it looked as if Robin Ebsworth in Quintessence was going to hold onto his narrow lead, it was not to be as Andrew Eddy in Plover read the zephyrs best and although nearly last round the inflatable crept into the lead ahead of Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet II & Meri Benham in Paroquet. To everyone's delight, the ROs shorted the course to just one round!
The seven One-Designs using their genoas followed the same course with mixed success. Jos Coad with Penny Stanley crewing in No 9 got it absolutely right and was well ahead at the windward mark; at the leeward mark he had almost caught the back Redwings and by the finish had in fact overtaken the last Redwing. The remainder were not so fortunate; Rob Mathieson sailing No 1 single-handed was second some seventeen minutes later and Charles Abel Smith in No 7 was third two minutes after that.
Having re-set the line at least twice as the breeze kept varying both strength and direction, both fleets eventually started their second race. Red Gauntlet II (24) had the best start and having rounded the windward inflatable out in front, managed to build a minutes lead when they eventually finished the shortened course at E ahead of Tara & Blue Jay II.
The start of the One-Design race was not the best with most boats some distance from the line. The front five were quite close as they rounded the windward inflatable and a few places changed mid-fleet on the slow run to Garland. The beat back was probably the best of the day as the breeze kicked in. Charles Abel Smith in No 7 made the best progress and finished 30 seconds ahead of No 5 helmed by new comer Nigel Rawlence with Robin Joy in No 10 third.
Typically the breeze settled down just as boats were finishing, however with lunch looming and having already been out on the water for well over 2 hours, no one looked too disappointed as they headed back to the Under Tyne moorings!
Sunday morning's forecast was not very optimistic and they were right. There was not a breath of wind at Under Tyne and having checked further east towards the Bembridge Ledge, the Race Officers, in discussion with the helms, wisely abandoned any racing and some of the boats and all crew were taken back into the harbour.
The annual Forts Race is programmed for next Saturday; however it clashes with some Solent Classes keelboat racing at Cowes which is going to include at least seven Redwings, so it may be postponed. Watch this space!