Only three
boats came out to compete in the first of the Bank Holiday series of races on
Saturday. It looked like a fresh easterly would be hard work for the crews, but
the wind was dropping as the start approached and was just a manageable force 3
as the start sequence started. Antix made the most competitive start with
Qantro not far behind and Cold Steel was reluctant to start but eventually
picked up the pace. Antix maintained her lead out to the Bell Buoy, even though
she’d been forced in to the first turning buoy and had a penalty turn to carry
out, and extended it with some slick spinnaker hoisting. Qantro decided against
the spinnaker, and Cold Steel might have wished she’d not bothered as problems
were encountered with the hoist and then she had it up the wrong side and then
had further problems changing sides. Eventually, she had all her sails sorted
out and rapidly gained ground on Qantro eventually passing her on the leg down
to Sandsend.
It was a
tough beat back with the ebb pushing against the boats and the order was
maintained, Antix, Cold Steel and Qantro. They struggled back to the Bell Buoy,
before turning back for the buoy off Upgang. All boats hoisted spinnakers for
this leg and had an even tougher beat back as the wind dropped and the ebb
increased. All boats struggled round the third last buoy and Cold Steel was
forced on to it and had to complete a penalty turn. Antix led in Cold Steel and
Qantro just finished in time to catch the extra lunch-time bridge. Result: 1st Antix, John
Allen, 2nd Cold Steel, Nigel Jarvis, 3rd Qantro,
Nathaniel Drake
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