Race Report - 13-14 September

This weekend's race report comes from Dynamite, courtesy of David Tydeman

A great weekend of 3 races, sensibly run by Derek Hodd and team from RLYC in potentially difficult conditions. Fortunately the flood tide mitigated it somewhat and the strongest winds didn't materialise. While we experienced some ‘bullet gusts’ on Saturday, the stronger winds on Sunday had moved to later in the day.

Saturday 13 September

Race 1

Course: CHS (off the green); Ben F Wood (South of Hill Head); Finish at Snowden

With race one due to start at 1215, the race committee received a diplomatic radio call from Dauntless asking ‘could you please confirm the first mark (along the green) is to Port?’. A few minutes passed and then a correction came – first mark to starboard allowing a bear away set onto Port Gybe heading to the brambles bank.

The start was challenging, with such an inshore bias that only 2 boats choosing starboard along the line heading into shore – on Dynamite, I was just below Darling and (with hindsight) should have luffed her over line – ah well. Meanwhile the others, taking the huge bias for a port tack start inshore, led to Dauntless and Darius being OCS. Doublet started cleanly and led to the first mark. During the run on to the Brambles bank, and flukey beat back to Snowden, everyone stayed close and had a good race. First race to Doublet, Dynamite second.

Race 2

Course: E Bramble; Cowes Corinthian (off the Shrape); Finish at Snowden

By now the easterly tide had slowed and the start was downwind in a southerly breeze ~20 gusting 25/28 kts. Derek's team chose a simple and good course to the East.

At the start, Doublet and Dynamite came in low, below the others, all on starboard. The tactics became clear as the gun went and while most hoisted spinnakers on starboard, Doublet and Dynamite gybed at the ODM and hoisted on Port. This worked and as large gusts pulsed through Doublet and Dynamite led the fleet to the first mark of East Bramble.

The simple course back to Snowden had many wind and tide shifts and tough bullet gusts – and I can report that as helm of Dynamite; this was the first time I’ve ever lost control enough to fall off the weather deck into the mainsail (with my waist well above the boom!). I won't bore the reader with more excuses but suffice to say it was a great race again for Doublet, with Darling securing second!

Sunday 14 September

Course: R London (off Castle Point); R Thames (S of Brambles); Hill Head; Goodall Roofing (Ryde Middle Bank); N Ryde Middle; Ancasta (W of E Bramble); Peel Bank; Ancasta; S Ryde Middle; Finish at Snowden

Sunday forecast was challenging but never materialised. We raced in less wind, but more rain, than Saturday and responding to comments about the “simple courses’ on Saturday (certainly unfair comments in my view – as above!), we were set a down tide, easterly start, reaching to Royal London buoy – and then 9 more marks up and down wind to keep us busy across the Ryde bank!

Mostly racing in 15-20 knts with some bursts of 20+, Sunday was easier for wind and more of a handling and crew challenge. Destroyer and Diamond carefully chose not to hoist spinnakers on the later legs, letting Doublet, Dauntless and Dynamite stretch out in front.

This was not without challenges in the strong tide and wave patterns and Dauntless nearly lost second to Dynamite mid race as she battled with her large spinnaker and changed to the smaller one. Soon after the second rounding of the Ancasta buoy, Dynamite blew her mainsheet apart, losing the connection to the traveller in the last upwind leg – possibly a deferred reaction to Saturday winds rather than Sunday! However, given the long reaching leg to the finish, this didn’t stop her sailing low tacking angles up to the last windward mark and then retaining 3rd place.

Well done to Doublet for 3 wins, demonstrating very consistent sailing in flukey and challenging conditions.

Thanks again to RLYC for a good series of decisions.