Crouch Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 3
by Sally Harbott 22 Oct 2018 17:02 BST
21 October 2018
At the start of Crouch YC Autumn Series race 3 © Alan Shrimplin
Clear blue sky and a light South Westerly breeze greeted the fleet for the third race of eight hosted by the Burnham Sailing Club. Eight boats were out and as the gun went, two boats were OCS, Grace and Danger the SJ27 and Bella Vela returning quickly but playing catch up to the rest of the fleet.
The course took the boats up river to sail twice round the Cliff, Bridgemarsh, Glaze triangle before returning to Number 7. The flood was easing as the fleet headed up river and the wind had come round much more westerly at the start so the fleet beat up river to Bridgemarsh. Exile, the X37 owned by Paul Trueman was leading on the water and led the fleet up to the top mark. Misled, owned by Richard Oram were next on the water, ahead but to leeward of Mantra. Skullduggery and Jeannie were next. As the fleet reached the point opposite Essex Marina, Don Rawling went aground in Skullduggery and allowed the fleet to pass him as they stayed slightly deeper enjoying the last of the flood.
Mantra managed to use a good lift and within two tacks had got through Misled. Grace and Danger were gradually clawing back places on every leg. Fidelio, the Contessa 35 owned by Malcolm Fawkes, who usually sails round on the River Blackwater were able to stay ahead of Skullduggery.
On the last run down river as the fleet headed to Number 7, Mantra, Phillip Harbott's Aphrodite 101, managed to sail through Exile, and in the last beat up river to the line against the ebb and in falling winds held her off on the water to take the bullet 31 seconds ahead. Jeannie came down river next a way off these two flying her blue and white AP spinnaker and managed to stay in touch on the beat, seeing where the wind was stronger and using the shallows in front of the club to keep good boat speed. John Saunders in the Elan Jeannie took third on the water with Grace and Danger managing to get through the much higher rated Misled on the last beat to take fourth on the water just a second ahead of Richard Oram in Misled. Fidelio finished next with Skullduggery really being hit by the lack of wind on her last few tacks coming in in seventh. Bella Vela retired.
On corrected time in Local Handicap Mantra won, 7 minutes ahead of Grace and Danger owned by Stephen Gosling and Andrew Courts, sailed today by Stephen Gosling, with Paul Trueman in Exile third 23 seconds behind the SJ27 and 16 seconds ahead of Jeannie. In the IRC division Mantra took first with Grace and Danger second and Exile third.