Sailing, 12th - 13th July (RNLI Trophy and Summer 5)

As visitors to Whitby basked in glorious sunshine ashore, 7 boats ventured out to sea to compete in the RNLI trophy in their support for the Lifeboat weekend. They were greeted by a fresh easterly wind which was bringing in fog banks spasmodically. On occasions, visibility was quite poor making it impossible to start the race so the boats waited in hope of clearer visibility. After 20 minutes, a clear patch materialised and the Race Officer got the boats away.

A close tussle occurred at the first turning mark off the pier ends before the boats turned downwind to head for Sandsend. Those that could, sported spinnakers, but the colourful sight wouldn’t be appreciated from the shore as the boats disappeared in to the fog again. Helmsmen got their heads down on to their instruments in order to find the small buoy off Sandsend, over a mile away. Icon led the fleet with the bigger Déjà Vu snapping at her heels. Samaki was having a close tussle with Skywalker and Monsoon had some space to herself. No Compromise was getting down to gaining her usual position at the head of the fleet after completing penalty turns and Serenade of Parkstone brought up the rear.

With the benefit of GPS, the fleet found the buoy, dropped their spinnakers and headed for the inshore Sandsend buoy before turning in to the wind to get back to the start/finish line. Most boats headed out to sea to take advantage of the flooding tide. Instruments were resorted to again as the beach disappeared in to the fog. Déjà Vu overtook Icon and No Compromise was only slowly clawing back her lost ground. Samaki broke Skywalker’s hold on her and Monsoon enjoyed the fresh beat. The Race Officer decided the game of hide and seek in the fog had to come to an end and finished the race at the end of the first lap with Déjà Vu leading the boats in, but the handicap would re-arrange the order. 

Result: 1^st Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 2^nd Skywalker, Pete Brown, 3^rd Samaki, Nigel Robinson

With torrential rain drumming down throughout Sunday morning, prospects for racing and the Blessing of the Boats looked decidedly dismal and only three boats were bold enough to face it. By the time they passed through the bridge, the rain had stopped and a fresh westerly provided good sailing conditions. The boats were committed to a short race in order to return for the Blessing and Icon led the fleet away with Samaki and Double D following. The order remained the same throughout and the positions were unchanged by application of the handicap. 

Result: Class A, 1^st Icon, Class B 1^st Samaki, 2^nd Double D, Dave Broughton