Crouch Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 1
by Sally Harbott 8 Oct 2018 20:15 BST
7 October 2018
Race 1 of the Crouch YC Autumn Series starts © Alan Shrimplin
Nine boats started in a fairly light Easterly /Northeasterly breeze today from Burnham Sailing Club line. The sun was shining and the 11 o'clock start meant that there was still some flood tide left. With the forecast saying that the wind would drop, and the tide due to ebb, the Race Officer sent the fleet up river, to ensure a with tide finish in anticipation of lighter winds.
Paul Trueman in his X37 Exile got a good start but to leeward of some of the fleet towards the South of the river. John Saunders in his Elan 31 Jeannie were also close to the line, but further to windward in a good position. Also in the front pack at the start was Traigh the UFO 31 owned by Dan Tribe helmed by Dylan McPherson and Richard Moore in Ophelia up there too, ahead but slightly to leeward of Phillip Harbott's Aphrodite 101 Mantra. Andy Heel was just to leeward of Mantra Lucy Lee up with this group by but lacking boat speed; the second pack were some way off at the gun, with Misled and Grace and Danger close together.
The course took the fleet up river to Cliff and Canewdon; on that first leg up to Cliff, Mantra had to put in a tack, but stood on too long, allowing John Saunders to get further away in Jeannie and also letting Misled through. Traigh got a great lift and managed the leg in one, and really closed the gap on the higher rated 101. Exile passed Cliff first and headed up to Canewdon, heading back to Cliff under white sail, Lucy Lee rounded next Jeannie followed in third. Misled had worked her way up to fourth, with Mantra 5th to round doing 8 knots over the ground on the last of the flood, opting not to set a spinnaker.
All boats sailed back to Cliff on a fetch Exile the X37 pulled away a little, the conditions suiting her long waterline length, with Lucy Lee in second, and Jeannie keeping third on the water. Mantra managed to get through Richard Oram's Elan Misled by sailing shallower and through her to leeward, so rounded Cliff the second time ahead of her to head back up to Canewdon for a second time.
On the down river leg to Number 7 from Canewdon, some opted to set kites at Black Point. Mantra were first to go kite, hoisting their distinctive red asymmetric with Misled just behind following suit. Grace and Danger the SJ27 belonging to Stephen Gosling and Andrew Courts hoisted their red and white spinnaker, with Andy Heel's Bella Vela also making the most of the freer angle. Exile rounded 7 ahead and headed back up to 13 in slack water along with Lucy Lee, Jeannie and Mantra, and the wind, as forecast was beginning to lighten. As Grace and Danger and Traigh rounded, with Traigh just behind the first of the ebb began.
Exile took line honours, followed by Lucy Lee, Jeannie and Mantra. Misled followed with Ophelia, Grace and Danger and Traigh very close together. Bella Vela who had been in touch with the fleet on the leg from Canewdon to Number 7 lost out against the strengthening tide and falling wind on the last legs.
On corrected time in the overall local handicap class, John Saunders in Jeannie won, with Phillip Harbott's Mantra second. Exile belonging to Paul Trueman were third and Richard Moore in Ophelia fourth.