9 Gallon Report

9-Gallon Report – 17^th October 2015

The traditional conclusion of the yacht racing season, a pursuit race with the winner collecting a barrel of beer was scheduled for Saturday. LWC had kindly donated a barrel of beer for the prize but with a strong northerly wind whipping the sea up not even the chance of free beer was enough to tempt the sailors to risk leaving harbour. And so the sailors headed to the yacht club on Saturday night for the end of season prize giving knowing the best prize was undecided.

The Commodore was determined that a winner would be found however, and had spent his afternoon devising a new 9-gallon race which could be run in the safety of the clubhouse. Each skipper was given a small model yacht, and with carefully calculated spinners which would represent the relative speeds of the different boats they set off, slowest boats first around a map of the bay.

B&B, Lady Hamilton and Double D – or at least small replicas of – were away first, B&B making good use of her head-start and was around the (small) bell buoy before the mid-fleet Samaki, Masquerade and Detached started. Utilising a higher numbered spinner these 3 were quickly on the tails of the leaders, but then they were looking over their shoulders too as the fast boats were finally away – Deja Vu, Antix, Teemane, Monsoon, Qantro, Icon and Cold Steel creating quite a crowd around the early marks.

With the serious business of awarding the seasons prizes to be done the game was called to a finish just as Masquerade caught Lady Hamilton for the lead. 3 extra spins later the winner of the 9 gallon race was finally decided – Lady Hamilton grabbing the prize. This, fortunately, Joanna and Malcolm decided to share with their rivals. Thanks again to LWC for generously letting us drink the beer despite not sailing!

With the free beer now claimed the trophies won over the course of the season were presented. Starting with two new prizes presented to the club in memory of former members David Duke and Jim Male. These were won by Icon and Bugs Bunny.

Antix (winner of Spring, Autumn and Bank Holiday Series as well as several cup races) and Icon (Summer, Coastal, Millenium and Mid-Week winner) divided most of the class A prizes between them, with Cold Steel taking the Pursuit series and numerous runners up flags. The dominance of those 3 boats in class A has been clear all season, only a few 3^rd place flags were left for the others to fight over – Qantro claiming those to add to her runners-up spot in the pursuit series.

Masquerade gathered up most class B silverware, winning the Summer, Autumn and Bank Holiday prizes. Skywalker (Spring) and Samaki (Coastal) also secured cups and several place flags. Lady Hamilton couldn’t quite match her 9-gallon win but did gather an impressive collection of 3^rd place flags.

Race Report: Autumn 6 & 7

Race Report – October 3^rd and 4^th

It was an early start for the yacht racing fleet for the Autumn series race on Saturday and a blanket of fog was hanging over the bay, but with the marks just visible and a gentle westerly breeze blowing the race was started on time. Icon was away quickly, chased by Masquerade and Cold Steel. Most were keen to keep close to shore for the first beat, where the tide against them would be less but some, included Déjà Vu and Qantro tacked out in search of clear air.

Icon maintained her lead around the first mark, Antix had found her way upto 2^nd with Cold Steel on her heels and these three were soon heading towards the Bell Buoy with spinnakers flying. Déjà Vu, Masquerade and Samaki rounded next but as none of them used a spinnaker they were passed by Qantro. Lady Hamilton was finding the wind too light for her liking and was struggling to stay in touch.

Lap 2 was a short loop at the Whitby end of the bay. Icon was still leading but Antix was steadily gaining. Cold Steel was on her own in third then there was a larger gap to Qantro. Déjà Vu was in close company with the class B leaders, Masquerade and Samaki. At this point the leaders were still making good progress and so class A were sent around another short lap. The wind was dropping though and the rest of the fleet slowed markedly approaching H mark. Masquerade made her way through the light air the best, passing Samaki and Déjà Vu, and the class B race was shortened to the end of lap 2, so Masquerade took the win ahead of Samaki.

The lighter wind was suiting Antix too, as Icon struggled, Antix was able to overtake and pull away to win class A. Icon was second ahead of Cold Steel. For the remaining boats the last lap would be a loop too far. Qantro was just a few boat lengths from the final mark when she was becalmed, and with the tide turning against her had to retire to make the bridge, further behind Déjà Vu and Lady Hamilton also had to call it a day. 

Result: Class A; 1^st Antix – John Allen & Sand Ransom, 2^nd Icon – Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 3^rd Cold Steel – Dey, Jarvis & Gowland. Class B; 1^st Masquerade – David Miller, 2^nd Samaki – Nigel Robinson

Five boats headed out even earlier on Sunday morning for the penultimate series race of the season. The wind was still light so a short triangular course was set. Serenade of Parkstone was quickest away, but Icon and Masquerade weren’t far behind. Qantro had already made a costly error as she hadn’t left herself room to get to the first mark and would have to do a couple of extra tacks.

The second side of the triangle had the wind on the beam. Antix used her spinnaker to climb her way to the front, and so Serenade decided to try it too. A gibe onto the third leg caused no issues for Antix who now led from Icon but Serenade was slow to get her spinnaker sorted and allowed Qantro past. It was another tight reach and spinnakers were dropped before reaching the final mark.

Two more triangles followed, Antix held the lead from Icon, both fighting to carry spinnakers along two of the sides but the white-sail Masquerade was keeping up well in third, still ahead of Qantro who tried the spinnaker once in order to catch up but lost more ground with a slow drop. On the last lap the wind became much lighter and the fleet spread out. Antix finished first and as the wind dropped away the others struggled in. Icon second, Masquerade third and finally Qantro as Serenade decided to head in for the bridge. 

Result: Class A; 1^st Antix – John Allen & Sandy Ransom, 2^nd Icon – Neil Williamson, 3^rd Qantro – Nathaniel Drake. Class B; 1^st Masquerade – David Miller. 

Race Report: Autumn 3 - 13th September

Sailing Report – Autumn 3

By Sunday the sea and calmed down and the wind eased enough to present very pleasant sailing conditions to the 4 yachts taking part in the 3^rd race of the Autumn series. Icon made a typically fast start, establishing an early lead over Skywalker and Lady Hamilton. A reach out to the bell buoy gave the big boats a chance to stretch their legs and Icon pulled clear while Qantro overhauled the others to take second.

Spinnakers were launched for the leg to Sandsend by every except Lady Hamilton, who tried but couldn’t sort her lines out and so dropped back as she continued under white sail. At the front Icon was leading but Qantro wasn’t too far behind as they reached Sandsend, and a tricky spinnaker drop, rounding the mark with the boats on the point of jibing. The windward return leg started to spread the fleet out, Icon being a bit too quick for Qantro who was well clear of Skywalker who in turn had a good lead over Lady Hamilton.

The same course was followed for lap 2. This time Lady Hamilton was ready with her kite and so made better progress but Skywalker was going to be hard to catch. Icon was looking comfortable in her class too, Qantro still unable to make any impression on the leader despite making pretty swift progress herself. Indeed the leaders were making such good progress that a third lap was called for class A.

Class B finished at the end of lap 2 and Skywalker had held onto her lead for the win.  On the shorter 3^rd lap Icon decided not to risk her spinnaker while Qantro decided to take the chance to practice but could only close the gap slightly. Icon took the win, lapping Lady Hamilton who finished second in class B, Qantro being runner-up in Class A.

Result: Class A – 1^st Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 2^nd Qantro, Nathaniel Drake. Class B – 1^st Skywalker, Peter Brown, 2^nd Lady Hamilton, Malcolm & Joanna Stuart.

Race Report: Gazette Cup - 12th September

Sailing Report – Whitby Gazette Cup

Autumn gales have been disrupting the sailing recently, but the wind eased enough for 4 boats to head out to contest the Whitby Gazette Cup – all sporting well reefed sails. Course options were limited as some of the racing marks were lost during the storms, and the sea remained rather rough further out so a run close in to the Sandsend inner mark and a beat back was chosen.

The downwind leg proved tricky going, with no-one braving a spinnaker in the conditions, the boats were all rolling around struggling to hold their sails in the goose-wing position whilst being pushed around by the waves. Icon gradually pulled her way to the front, ahead of Cold Steel and Qantro with Lady Hamilton clinging on to the tail of the faster boats.

Approaching Sandsend a problem became clear. The inner Sandsend mark was no-where to be seen. While a GPS-guided Icon headed for its usual location, Qantro headed further in hoping to find it had been swept in, but to no avail. A back-up plan to go around a virtual mark at the GPS location was devised and so the fleet headed around and started a beat back to Whitby. With Icon still leading, Cold Steel decided to shake out her reef to try to catch up. Now heading into the waves the helmsmen had to work hard to keep the yachts powering forwards. Qantro found it particularly hard going and decided that 1 lap was enough for her.

For the second lap W mark off Upgang was used as the turning point. Icon had also now got full mainsail up and was holding Cold Steel at bay, Lady Hamilton was now on her own in 3^rd. The order remained unchanged for the rest of the race and so Icon claimed the cup.

Result: 1^st Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 2^nd Cold Steel, Dey, Jarvis and Gowland, 3^rd Lady Hamilton, Malcolm & Joanna Stuart

Race Report - David Duke Trophy - 22nd August

David Duke Trophy – 22nd August

A new trophy, presented to the Yacht Club in memory of long standing member David Duke by his family, was contested for the first time on Saturday.

The race was to Runswick Bay via the Boulby buoy and seven yachts headed out to compete. This was reduced to 6 before the start however as a failed hull fitting left Double D taking water and hurrying back to harbour. The remaining boats prepared themselves for a long downwind sail to Boulby, most had spinnakers ready to launch but Cold Steel bravely got theirs up early and forced their way past Masquerade to the front. Icon, Samaki, Qantro and Lady Hamilton quickly responded brightening the bay up with their multi-coloured spinnakers.

Cold Steel and Icon were in a close duel around P mark and heading off across the bay. Samaki took up 3rd with Lady Hamilton keeping up well and Qantro who had started further inshore initially struggling to find the wind. The only boat without a spinnaker – Masquerade – was already finding it slow going.

Towards Sandsend the fleet encountered the first of many holes in the wind which would come to define the race. The leaders slowed and the fleet bunched up. Qantro having decided that the boats further out were making better progress edged her way out and up to 3rd, while Icon had a slender lead over Cold Steel. By now Masquerade had decided it wasn’t going to be her day and headed home to catch the last morning bridge.

Rounding the first headland Icon and Cold Steel again lost the wind. Qantro caught up, heading a bit further out, but as she pulled ahead also slowed. Samaki, followed by Lady Hamilton, decided to stay closer in out of the tide, and edged their way back into contention. All struggled to find enough wind to overcome the tide. Spinnakers and genoas were raised and lowered as the wind threatened to change direction.

When the breeze did return it was again from behind, so spinnakers reset the fleet started making progress again. And it was Qantro who was making the fastest progress, pulling ahead of her rivals. Cold Steel gained 2nd, and started to head further out where Qantro had been doing well. By now the tide was turning and providing some assistance, but would hinder their return.

Qantro held onto her lead as they approached Boulby, and as race officer had to ponder whether they could make it back to Runswick, which meant turning against the tide but with a generous time limit decided the race should continue (drat!). She had made little progress though as Cold Steel rounded, and they sat just holding position against the current. Just as Icon approached some 18 minutes later the wind backed dramatically, and the leaders were now flying their spinnakers heading in the opposite direction to where they had before. This meant the remaining boats faced a steady beat to the rounding mark, while Qantro and Cold Steel started to head back, with Icon now closing on them.

This time Qantro headed closer to shore, brushing past Staithes, and again had it right as she re-established her lead. Cold Steel was still holding off Icon for 2nd, while Samaki and Lady Hamilton were now on the return leg too. About halfway back Qantro still held a clear lead but the wind kept going light and progress was slow, the wind veered back around and so the leader was close hauled as she edged her way down the coast trying to keep out of the tide.

Then just as she approached Runswick she ground to a halt as the wind died. Cold Steel slowly edged back up to her, but she too was struggling and Icon was looming behind them. Cold Steel tried to sneak up the inside but found it too shallow and had to tack out allowing Icon to catch her. All 3 were caught in a hole with virtually no wind and the tide pushing them back. Qantro remained closest to shore, and with least tide against her, just held onto the lead, but her hopes of glory were fading fast. The breeze was returning further out to sea. Icon spotted it and battled her way out to it with Cold Steel just a few boat lengths behind her.

In the deciding moment Icon caught the wind and was away, leaving her 2 challengers trapped. Amazingly there was almost too much wind for Icon as she sped to the finish, but Cold Steel and Qantro still had none and remained stationary. To compound their misery, Samaki found her way through and also sped off to take 2nd. Lady Hamilton decided to call it a day, and a pretty despondent Qantro soon did likewise, but Cold Steel persisted and eventually, 50 minutes after Icon, found their way into the breeze and to the finish.

Result; 1st Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 2nd Samaki, Nigel Robinson, 3rd Cold Steel, Dey, Jarvis and Gowland

Race Report: Tyler Cup 17 August 2015

Tyler Cup – 17^th August

A strong North Westerly wind on Friday forced the postponement of the Tyler Cup as conditions in Sandsend bay were not suitable for the dinghies. Fortunately the organisers had a back-up plan and so the little boats were taken to the calmer waters of Scaling Dam on Monday to contest the cup over two races. 4 dinghies made it to the re-arranged event – all of them Enterprises so there’d be no handicaps to worry about.

With the breeze blowing across the dam a technical course was set, zig-zagging around the marks up to the far end of the dam then running straight back. A testing combination of beats, reaches and runs – and navigation!

Grey Matter claimed the desirable windward end of the start-line for the opening race with Whirlpool shadowing her, State of Mind was a bit further to leeward but hit the line with good speed, while Sundowner got the timing wrong and was at the back. Able to lay the mark in one tack, Grey Matter led but State of Mind got a wind shift that lifted them onto the mark too and so rounded just ahead of Whirlpool.

Grey Matter than reached rapidly across the lake to the next mark, only to realise they’d gone to the wrong one and have to turn around. Fortunately for them neither State of Mind or Whirlpool had spotted the mistake and they had both followed the leader in the wrong direction. This presented an opportunity to Sundowner, but although she knew something was amiss and headed to a different mark she too got it wrong!

Next a shallow water mark was mistaken for the turning point and, as Grey Matter struggled to find the right mark, State of Mind took the lead. Her chances of breaking clear were hampered however by Whirlpool who was close behind and pinching her wind in an attempt to gain an overlap. And so, all three were tightly packed as they finally went around the correct mark. Grey Matter was third around but well placed to steal the wind as her two rivals, battling each other, both lost momentum and so the order was soon restored to Grey Matter, State of Mind, Whirlpool. Whirlpool then found herself in shallow water and had to tack away, losing a bit more ground.

The lead 3 now had their navigation sorted, and were making good progress. All were kept on their toes as the gaps grew and then shrank through the rather patchy wind. Sundowner was still struggling to find her bearings though and eventually gave up. Grey Matter completed a clean second lap to win race 1. State of Mind had put up a good chase but were unable to catch the leader and by finish they too were looking over their shoulders as Whirlpool had a late burst and closed to with a few seconds.

Race 2 used the same course, which by now everyone had learnt. Grey Matter again claimed the windward end of the line, State of Mind and Whirlpool battled for the middle ground and Sundowner made a much better get away and was in contention too. While Grey Matter led again chased by State of Mind, Whirlpool misjudged the wind and found herself in a much lighter patch, so she was passed by Sundowner.

Towards the end of lap 1, Sundowner was still third but Whirlpool was gaining, then around the final mark Sundowner went wide Whirlpool hardened up and went inside only for Sundowner to tack across her bow. A collision was inevitable but fortunately there was no damage and, once Sundowner had completed her penalty turns, both were able to continue.

At the front State of Mind seemed for a while to be gaining on Grey Matter, but by the finish Grey Matter had edged away to take her second win and with it the cup. Whirlpool sailed a much better 2^nd lap, pulling clear of Sundowner but she couldn’t bridge the gap to State of Mind who secured the runners-up prize.

Overall Result: 1^st Grey Matter, Neil & Andrew Williamson, 2^nd State of Mind, Graham Oliver & Keith Gowland, 3^rd Whirlpool, George Davey & Nathaniel Drake  

Race Report: Robinson Cup 15th August 2015

Robinson Cup – 15^th August

Eight yachts competed for the Robinson Cup on the Saturday of Whitby Regatta weekend. A fresh WNW wind had created a slightly lumpy sea but provided plenty of power for the sails and it was a keenly contested start – Icon and Cold Steel finding their usual positions near the front but Lady Hamilton and Samaki were mixing with them too. Further back both Monsoon and Skywalker had troubles getting their sails set and were slow away.

After a short opening leg the fleet headed out to the Bell Bouy. Icon was now established at the front with Cold Steel leading the chase. Skywalker and Monsoon began their recoveries overhauling B&B and gaining on Lady Hamilton.

Once around the mark different tactics came into play for the long leg to Sandsend;- most tacked into the bay but Samaki and Masquerade headed out to sea and made good progress. Not quite good enough to catch Icon though as she rounded first and quickly set her spinnaker for the return run, Cold Steel holding second ahead of Samaki. Monsoon and Masquerade seemed as though they would be in a close battle for 4^th but Monsoon was caught out by a wind shift and lost ground with an unintended tack. B&B had a bigger problem, having dropped their radio overboard they were circling to pick it back up, losing lots of time and eventually retiring – but they got the radio back!

A jibe around the bell buoy, a quick reach back to the harbour mark and a harden-up to cross the line completed lap 1. Icon was now edging clear of Cold Steel who in-turn was pulling away from Samaki. Monsoon was gaining on Masquerade, while Skywalker was now ahead of Lady Hamilton and clinging onto the bigger boats infront - still in contention on handicap.

Lap 2 followed the same course as the first, but the wind had eased and also veered a bit more to the North. This became clear on the leg to Sandsend, Samaki again took the seaward route, but the boats tacking in shortly after the Bell Bouy were able to lay the mark in one tack and so there was little to be gained by deviating from the direct line and the order remained unchanged.

Icon had her spinnaker set and was charging back long before the others reached Sandsend. Cold Steel was secure in second place but Samaki was aware that she was in a battle for third with the lower rated boats behind and so she too launched her spinnaker. That wasn’t an option for Masquerade or Monsoon who aren’t rated to use one but they still made good progress, especially Monsoon who found the speed to overtake her rival for fourth.

Skywalker made use of their spinnaker to stay in touch, while Lady Hamilton was finding the wind had eased a bit much for her liking. These two would face one more unexpected hurdle as the Trinity House service boat arrived at the Bell Bouy and positioned herself to lift the mark just as they approached. Skywalker making it through, but after some radio discussions Lady Hamilton had to divert.

Icon completed the course 5 minutes clear of her closest challenger to take the cup. Cold Steel had done enough for the runners-up spot. Third home was Samaki, then in order Monsoon, Masquerade, Skywalker and Lady Hamilton, but there was disappointment for Samaki as the handicap promoted Skywalker to the final step of the podium. The corrected times also switching Masquerade ahead of Monsoon. 

Result; - 1^st Icon, Neil and Lorraine Williamson, 2^nd Cold Steel, Dey, Jarvis and Gowland, 3^rd Skywalker, Peter Brown.