2025 Medway Yacht Club Cruiser Spring Series Race 1

2025 Medway Yacht Club Cruiser Spring Series Race 1: Zephyros sees Countdown from an unusual angle © Richard Fernandes

We are delighted that 20 cruisers indicated their intention to participate in the series compared to 12 last year. We divided them into Class 1 and Class 2 based on their Club Handicaps which is our assessment of their sailing speeds.

Most of Class 2 had to delay starting until later races in the Series. Fortunately, the one remaining Class 2 entry, Short Wave, bravely agreed to sail the same course as Class 1 in Race 1.

Choosing a racecourse was difficult since there was a rising tide throughout the race making it difficult to get down the river. This was compounded by wind forecasts leading up to the race which varied considerably. Fortunately, at the key time the forecast was enough to get to the Thames Estuary and back, so the course was to get to Grain Edge in the fastest way possible taking advantage of all eddies down the river.

At the start Countdown took a commanding position close to the right bank but wind shadows meant that Mercury, Chips and Zephyros got ahead of them. There followed a spinnaker procession down the river with Mercury in front and a grouping of Chips, Zephyros and Countdown. Countdown was trying to block the wind of Zephyros, and Zephyros the wind of Chips, but they emerged from the Medway still in order.

Near Grain Edge Mercury fell into a windless hole possibly caused by a developing sea breeze. Zephyros and Countdown also fell into the hole. Chips, cleverly approaching Grain Edge from up tide, got round Grain Edge and together with Mercury streaked away up the river with the tide. At this point we became anxious that Short Wave would not be able to finish the course and announced a course shortening at 16 on Channel 37 and WhatsApp. Getting acknowledgement from all the competitors proved challenging but fortunately most finally got the message, acknowledged and finished the course including Short Wave who bravely finished at 15:08:50 when the tide had changed against them.

Everyone had a great day out in mostly sunny weather with a good wind and achieved the target of getting out into the Thames Estuary.

Race 1 Results: