Stuart Perkins Cup and Spring 4

Sailing 25^th and 26^th April

After the Early Bird Cup was lost to the weather, Saturday’s Stuart Perkins Cup was the first chance of the season to bag some silverware. This was enough to entice 7 boats out despite a fresh WSW wind giving challenging conditions. With the forecast suggesting worsening weather through the day, a quick 1 lap course was set.

Lady Hamilton got the timing best at the start - leading the fleet to the first mark with Icon hard on her heels and the rest closely bunched behind. The next leg was out to the bell buoy, and here Antix made her move quickly hoisting her spinnaker and grabbing the lead. Icon did likewise and secured second place, ahead of Cold Steel and Samaki.

The fleet was spread out on the windward leg back in to P mark. Some were having troubles in the gusty conditions; early leader Lady Hamilton losing ground as she struggled with a main sheet which was threatening to come apart and Monsoon decided that they needed to reduce sail area and set about furling the head-sail.

Once they’d battled their way to Sandsend, it was a pretty speedy return to Whitby. Antix led home from Icon and Cold Steel, those three well clear of the two Starlights;- Samaki doing well to overturn her handicap disadvantage against Masquerade. All seven boats completing the course despite strengthening wind.

Result;- 1^st Antix, 2^nd Icon, 3^rd Cold Steel

It was back to the business of securing series points on Sunday. 9 boats headed out through a choppy harbour mouth to find better than expected conditions in the bay. A nice westerly breeze, and even a hint of sunshine.

Again Lady Hamilton got a good start, but she was quickly swallowed up by the two Sigmas – Icon and Cold Steel. Both keen to take advantage of a rare mistake by Antix which had left her struggling at the back. Qantro crept up into 3^rd early on the beat to Sandsend, Samaki also making progress through the fleet.

Tacking towards Sandsend, Antix was making up lost ground crossing ahead of Qantro but still behind the lead pair. Samaki was established at the front of class B, ahead of Masquerade and SkyWalker. Icon was first around with Antix now second ahead of Cold Steel, these 3 swiftly launching their spinnakers for the return run. Qantro was more reluctant to do so, eventually getting it up about half-way back. Samaki and SkyWalker were the only class B boats to use spinnakers, Masquerade dropping to third without one.

A short second lap saw Antix eventually get past Icon to take line honours, but Icon stayed close enough to take the win on corrected time. In class B Samaki had pulled well clear and Masquerade had re-passed SkyWalker but the handicap would give the smaller SkyWalker the advantage.

Results: Class A 1^st Icon, 2^nd Antix, 3^rd Cold Steel. Class B 1^st SkyWalker 2^nd Samaki 3^rd Masquerade

Nathaniel Drake, Rear Commodore Race