Bembridge Sailing Club Weekend Keelboat Racing
by Mike Samuelson 10 Aug 2020 06:15 BST
7-9 August 2020
Bembridge Keelboat Racing © Mike Samuelson
N over A on Saturday afternoon, but unlike earlier use of these two flags to signify 'no racing' since racing became possible again in early July, this time it was the lack of any wind, rather than too much!
On Sunday afternoon, it was not looking very promising either, however the Race Officers were confident that some racing was going to be possible so headed out in Sea Breeze to Footprint. After a long delay waiting for the eight Redwings to make it to the start area in the fickle breeze, they all made a clean start as they beat to Derrick.
With the breeze dropping as they reached the leeward mark (Spy Alarms), the course was changed so that they finished at Garland. After a close race, first was Skua, helmed by Rory Morrison, second was Red Gauntlet II helmed by Joe Robertson and third was Snowgoose, helmed by Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore.
There were only two One-Designs. They had a close race with Britten as their windward mark. Mark Grzegorczyk finished first ahead of Alexander Ross.
On Friday afternoon, seven Redwings had an interesting race for their annual Princessa Trophy. As the title suggests, the course includes the West Princessa cardinal mark off Whitecliff Bay.
Starting at Garland in a gentle F2/F3 SSE'rly breeze they had a challenging first leg to the Bembridge Ledge; initially the next leg to the Princessa was a close reach but when the breeze backed slightly and dropped it became a tricky beat with the tide swooshing them all southwards.
It then became touch and go whether anyone was actually going to make the mark, and get back against 4 knot current. Colin Samuelson in Toucan judged it perfectly and successfully rounded the buoy, but having made about 3 boat lengths back towards Bembridge they ground to a halt and by the time they eventually put down their anchor down (along with the rest of the fleet) they were a good 500m down tide! With no sign of the breeze returning, the only sensible option was a long tow back to the harbour!
In the meantime five One-Designs enjoyed a shorter inshore race which, with the breeze holding, they were able to finish at Nainby.
With no Cowes Week, the coming week has been re-titled 'Bembridge Week' with daily prizes. Hopefully the weather conditions will allow some good racing.