Race Report: Autumn 3 - 13th September

Sailing Report – Autumn 3

By Sunday the sea and calmed down and the wind eased enough to present very pleasant sailing conditions to the 4 yachts taking part in the 3^rd race of the Autumn series. Icon made a typically fast start, establishing an early lead over Skywalker and Lady Hamilton. A reach out to the bell buoy gave the big boats a chance to stretch their legs and Icon pulled clear while Qantro overhauled the others to take second.

Spinnakers were launched for the leg to Sandsend by every except Lady Hamilton, who tried but couldn’t sort her lines out and so dropped back as she continued under white sail. At the front Icon was leading but Qantro wasn’t too far behind as they reached Sandsend, and a tricky spinnaker drop, rounding the mark with the boats on the point of jibing. The windward return leg started to spread the fleet out, Icon being a bit too quick for Qantro who was well clear of Skywalker who in turn had a good lead over Lady Hamilton.

The same course was followed for lap 2. This time Lady Hamilton was ready with her kite and so made better progress but Skywalker was going to be hard to catch. Icon was looking comfortable in her class too, Qantro still unable to make any impression on the leader despite making pretty swift progress herself. Indeed the leaders were making such good progress that a third lap was called for class A.

Class B finished at the end of lap 2 and Skywalker had held onto her lead for the win.  On the shorter 3^rd lap Icon decided not to risk her spinnaker while Qantro decided to take the chance to practice but could only close the gap slightly. Icon took the win, lapping Lady Hamilton who finished second in class B, Qantro being runner-up in Class A.

Result: Class A – 1^st Icon, Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 2^nd Qantro, Nathaniel Drake. Class B – 1^st Skywalker, Peter Brown, 2^nd Lady Hamilton, Malcolm & Joanna Stuart.