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.