Sailing yesterday
What a morning to wake up to yesterday! Rain lashing against the windows. Managed to load up the car between the showers but arrived at Bewl and it was pouring again. Shortly after 9.30, there were 10 of us sitting having coffee in the warm and the race officers, Chris and Martin from the Laser fleet, were looking at us almost daring us to go out but hoping we wouldn’t. But, hey, we’re Fifteen sailors!! Just before 10.00 the rain eased a bit and the sky, low down to the south, became a little bit lighter. So a dash to the boat-park to collect 5 boats, rig them and get changed. Four of us made it to the start line leaving Vic and Carol on shore trying to fit a new kicker which was taking longer than expected. Has anyone ever done a 5 minute job on a boat?
Quite understandably bearing in mind the conditions and that by now the rain was coming in horizontally on a force 4-5, Chris decided to run the racing from the box. As the wind was coming from the south, it meant that the first leg was a short reach to N to then give us a long beat up to S. There were only two RSs and a single Laser and us up for the challenge so the other three boats were given a joint start before us. The four of us then crossed the line together. With Geoff and Jim close to the pin , Eric and Bill were outside them then Robin and Gio with Jennie and me nearer to the shore.
A flying start which got even better when a gust came through and we all got up on a plane. Despite the short distance, Geoff and Jim decided to fly their kite so at the mark they were ahead by probably only half a boat length. However, they had either left the drop a few seconds too late or were too slow which caused them to broach right on the mark with the spinnaker only half into the boat. This resulted in the three of us having to take immediate avoiding action to miss them and each other.
Eric and Bill were the first to recover and set off close hauled up the beat. However, Robin and I never got really got control of our boats as, by now, the gusts were coming through thick and fast, the top one recorded when we came ashore was shown as 29.6 knots. Rather than sailing close hauled, we were little more than reaching in an effort to stay upright and it was going to take for ever to get to the next mark and Robin was the first to head back to shore. Finding slightly calmer water in the region of 2, I finally managed to tack but was making no better headway towards the nature reserve and we both decided that discretion was the better part of valour and, as we were not getting any enjoyment from the situation, we went to join Robin. By now Geoff and Jim had got their boat back upright and had set off to chase Eric but, despite closing the gap they never quite made it. Looking for revenge in a second race, they were disappointed to find that Eric and Bill had had enough so both boats came ashore.
Use of the docks
Although we all launched off the usual dock yesterday, both Robin and I found it much easier to come back onto the new Versa dock. It is longer, and can thus accommodate more of us at any one time, is softer if you come in at speed and you don’t have a struggle getting round the new hoist. While there are fewer boats out during the winter months, this could be the ideal slipway for us to use, particularly as it is flatter as well. Let’s give it a try.
Dinner and prize-giving
I will be giving Gordon numbers and choices next weekend so if you haven’t already sent me yours please could you do so as soon as possible. A copy of the menu is attached.
Club AGM
You will have seen the note from the office that the club’s AGM is on Sunday week, in the afternoon after racing. The Commodores report, the audited accounts and other necessary documentation can be downloaded from the website. This is an opportunity for the ordinary member to hear the reports from the flag officers and question them about their areas of responsibility but please remember that they are only volunteers and many of them give up a considerably amount of their time on our behalf.
While I hope that as many of you will attend the meeting, I see that there is to be an election this time for the committee so, if you can’t come along in person, please download the proxy form and lodge it with the office by the due date, Friday 16 November. While you can opt for the chairman of the meeting to be your proxy, I shall be going along so would be more than happy to take on that responsibility if you would prefer.
Keith
