Noble Marine Comet Trio Mark 1 National Championship at Exe Sailing Club - Day 2

by Caroline McAusland 13 Jul 2024 22:26 BST 12-14 July 2024

Blue sky, ominous looking clouds and a glassy sea greeted the competitors at Exe sailing club this morning.

After an hour postponement and a lot of effort, the competitors finally passed the end of Dawlish Warren to sail out to the committee boat.

Race 3 started in a light southerly breeze. Unfortunately 4 boats were OCS, two returning but The Ways and Jamie Grigor were on the naughty step.

Bob & Colette Horlock starting at the pin end were off like a cork out a bottle leaving everyone trailing in their wake to take 1st place. Guy and Graham started at the committee boat end, taking a long port tack & looking in contention but not quite able to catch Ben & Poppy.

Race 4 With the wind swinging a little to the west, the marks were relaid, this time the favoured end being the committee boat end. After the usual pile up, everyone got away with the McAuslands taking a long port tack inshore. This paid off and they arrived first at the windward mark which they held for the duration of the race. There was a tussle at the gybe mark between Richard Sallis crewed by Carole, Guy & Graham and Chris and Ben Biglin. Richard & Carole prevailed and finished second followed by Guy & Graham.

Race 5 With the wind dropping and the ominous clouds ever closer it looked as though we were going to get wet one way or another.

The McAuslands set off on a long port tack again although The Ways, Toby & Sue and Simon & Veronique were in close contention. The Ways had a little mark incident and were observed taking a turn.

The wind by this time had dropped and shifted through 40 degrees, the race officer made a sensible decision to abandon.

Toby & Sue were the winners of the pink pyjamas- sadly only virtual now. They discovered a big speed improvement with their spinnaker rigged the right way round!

With only 3 points separating the top 3 boats it's all to sail for tomorrow.