Scarborough Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 5

A slow Scarborough YC Autumn Series Race 5 © SYC

Gerard Dyson of second place Vision picks up his pennant from Commodore Roger Buxton after Scarborough YC Autumn Series Race 5 © SYC

Another wind-challenged race wins race rewards for wind-hunting crews.

The race, a phased Class Start in common with this series started at 12:30pm. With similar weather conditions to our race on 10th November, nine yachts competing in a swell, and a Southerly wind. We had six course finishers, and three retirements.

There is something quietly majestic about a photograph of a flotilla of yachts in a grey, foggy seascape, with a swell causing them to gaily rock, whilst making almost no forward motion at all. And the radio'd instructions 'Course K, one lap only', delivered in sonorous tones, the guarantor of a long, slow race, and yet another case of 'hunt the wind.'

The choice of Course K was made with the light wind and current in mind to ensure the best chance of the most vessels finishing before the tide height-linked race window closed to avoid difficulties getting back to the harbour.

After the turn at Buoy No.8, the yachts appeared to be heading towards each other with little steerage way available to avoid close encounters, and just the tidal flow for direction. With so little wind, those skippers and crews that could have their sails and course directions set just right for the tiniest drafts were the ones that went to the top of the leaderboard and mintained a stubborn persistence.

So it is well done to VADO and BLACK SHEEP for again proving progress can be made in a near-calm.

Race 5 Results:

IRC

1. Vado, an Aphrodite 29 owned by Steve and Win Russell
2. Vision, an SJ320 owned by Jon Livesay
3. Midnight Express IV, a Dehler 32 owned by Martin and Jan Stallard

707
1. Black Sheep, a Hunter 707 owned by Steve Parker and Tom Clark
2. A Grand Day Out, a Hunter 707 owned by Steve Bramham/Richard Littlewood
3. Humdinger, a Hunter 707 owned by Ralph Pickard and Gary Walker