Pursuit 3: Saturday 24th May 2014

Prospects of sailing had looked extremely ominous on the Friday as rain poured down and the fresh north-easterly built up quite a big sea in the harbour entrance, but, thankfully the wind had calmed down by Saturday morning, but there still remained a long, rolling swell which would test quite a few stomachs when the boats came out. Seven yachts came out to compete in the third race of the Pursuit series where the slower boats set off first and eventually the greyhounds are released and headed off to devour the leading boats, like Pacman!

Serenade of Parkstone got procedures underway  followed a minute later by Double D and a little later by Masquerade. After a brief spell, Samaki was released and then the greyhounds had a lengthy wait before Icon, Antix and No Compromise were released almost half an hour after the lead boat. These three quickly picked up the chase in the order Antix, No Compromise and Icon, but the lead three, Serenade, Masquerade and Double D, got sucked towards Whitby rocks with stronger tide and a bigger rolling sea, allowing Samaki to inflict the first casualty as she overtook Double D and was hot on the tails of Serenade and Masquerade. 

The long, rolling, run against the tide commenced as the boats headed for Sandsend and Samaki gained the better over Serenade and Masquerade, before they turned for the beat against the wind back to the Bell Buoy. Samaki enjoyed her lead for over half an hour but could see the charging greyhounds eating away her lead as they charged past Double D, Serenade and Masquerade and was under no illusion that she would be in the front when time ran out. At the end of the first lap, the two hours of racing was almost used up, the boats were well bunched up around the starting line and Antix and then No Compromise passed the long time leader, Samaki, and the handicapping proved extremely effective with the rest of the fleet very close together. 

Result:  1^st Antix, John Allen, 2^nd No Compromise, Derek Frank, 3^rd Samaki, Nigel Robinson

10/11 May - P2 and Sp4

A brisk downpour as the boats waited for the bridge did not deter the six boats who were coming out of the harbour to compete in the second of the series of pursuit races. The theoretically slower boats set off first and the faster boats set off last. Double D got the race started followed by Samaki and then Cold Steel was a minute behind. The faster boats, Icon, Antix and No Compromise followed almost half an hour after the first boats. The first boat to be overtaken was Double D as she struggled with the gusting southerly wind and Samaki and Cold Steel took advantage of her difficulties. Samaki just retained the lead as the leaders turned out to sea at Sandsend, but Cold Steel quickly powered past. The faster boats were having a close tussle with No Compromise just holding off Antix and Icon was in the unusual position of bringing up the rear, but they all rapidly passed the still struggling Double D. This order was maintained to the finish, but as the time ran out, No Compromise and Antix were both breathing down Samaki’s neck.

 Result: 1^st Cold Steel, Nigel Jarvis, 2^nd Samaki, Nigel Robinson, 3^rd No Compromise, Derek Frank.

The soaking the day before did little to encourage the boats out to face a similar weather forecast, but, thankfully, the met man got it wrong and there was no rain, but equally, there was little wind, and what there was from the north and built up an onshore swell. Only four boats risked the soaking, which didn’t materialise, and headed for the first turning mark positioned off Upgang. All boats had a competitive start, and quickly settled in to the expected order, Antix, Icon, Samaki and Skywalker. These boats clawed their way along the shoreline avoiding the still flooding tide and turned to go offshore to round the Upgang mark, but all underestimated the strong tide and had overestimated their expected sailing speed which was greatly diminished as the northerly swell held them back. They all had to put in further tacks out in the strong tide, but eventually managed to round the first mark before turning for the bell buoy. With the tide now with them and spinnakers hoisted, progress improved. The spinnakers were gybed at the buoy for a fine reach to the harbour entrance, but the wind swung and made spinnakers impossible and boats struggled to get their spinnakers down, particularly Skywalker. The Race Officer sent the fleet round for a further lap as the wind increased to a fresh force 4 and the fleet came home with foaming bow waves in the order Antix, Icon, Samaki and Skywalker, but the handicap would reverse the result for Class B.

Result: Class A. 1^st Antix, John Allen, 2^nd Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson.

Class B. 1^st Skywalker, Peter Brown, 2^nd Samaki.

Sailing 2nd - 5th of May

It was a busy weekend for the sailors of Whitby. Not only was it a Bank Holiday Weekend, but the state of the tides determined that the first of Midweek series of races could be conducted on the Friday. There was a moderate wind from the north for this race and 6 boats were keen to compete. A close start saw Icon with Cold Steel and Samaki not far behind. Déjà Vu had the door closed on her at the start mark and was forced to circle round leaving her with a large distance to catch up. Teemane and Double D made more timid starts. The fleet headed for Sandsend with Déjà Vu getting in to her stride and eventually getting to her rightful place at the front. The leading four, Déjà Vu, Icon, Cold Steel and Samaki headed for a mark just short of the Bell Buoy. However, navigation skills were a little rusty as 3 of the boats headed for the wrong mark and once they determined which the correct mark was, they misjudged the headings required, so Cold Steel, Samaki and Icon rounded the third mark in close formation, with Déjà Vu well ahead. The race was restricted to one lap and Déjà Vu led the fleet in with the next three, Cold Steel, Icon & Samaki finishing within 10 seconds of each other, but the handicap would turn the result around. Result: 1^st, Samaki, Nigel Robinson, 2^nd Cold Steel, Nigel Jarvis, 3^rd Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson.

The wind had disappeared on the Saturday and the race was postponed, but within 15 minutes, a gentle wind materialised allowing six boats to compete for the Stewart Perkins Cup. A light wind course was selected. No Compromise soon adopted her usual position at the front with Antix, Icon & Cold Steel forming the chasing fleet. No Compromise maintained her lead throughout, but Antix and Icon had a close tussle, with Icon having her nose in front at the end. Result: 1^st, Icon, 2^nd, Antix, John Allen, 3^rd Cold Steel.

Sunday started with a steady drizzle, dampening some of the boats enthusiasm to go to sea. Five boats did go out and were rewarded with the drizzle being turned off and splendid sailing conditions materialised. Icon timed her start nicely and led Cold steel, Antix and No Compromise, with Skywalker, the only Class B boat having her own race. At the first mark, just Antix and Icon popped their spinnakers for the short run out to sea before beating back to the coast where Antix passed Icon. The next leg took the fleet out to sea again, before another beat back in to Sandsend bay where No Compromise also passed Icon. The order was maintained for the remainder of the race, although the Race Officer thought that just 1 lap was sufficient for Skywalker in Class B. Antix led the fleet in, with No Compromise second, Icon third and Cold steel a long way off the pace. Result: Class A. 1^st Antix, 2^nd Icon, 3^rd No Compromise, Derek Frank. Class B. 1^st Skywalker, Peter Brown.

Enthusiasm was waning for the fourth race of the weekend and just 2 boats came out in Class A and 2 boats came out in Class B to compete in the fifth race in the Bank Holiday series and were greeted by the best weather of the weekend with a fresh southerly wind blowing providing warmth which had been lacking from the previous northerlies and a flat sea. All four boats made a close start with the fleet rapidly settling in to the theoretically correct order of Antix, Icon, Samaki and Skywalker. Speeds were excellent and the boats completed their first lap in under an hour and set off for their second with the order remaining the same, Antix, Icon, Samaki and Skywalker. Class A went on to complete a further lap, but Class B curtailed their race in the order Samaki and Skywalker, but the handicap would reverse the result. In Class A,  Antix led in Icon with a large enough lead to beat her handicap. Result: Class A. 1^st Antix, 2^nd Icon. Class B. 1^st Skywalker, 2^nd Samaki