9 Gallon Report

9-Gallon Report – 17^th October 2015

The traditional conclusion of the yacht racing season, a pursuit race with the winner collecting a barrel of beer was scheduled for Saturday. LWC had kindly donated a barrel of beer for the prize but with a strong northerly wind whipping the sea up not even the chance of free beer was enough to tempt the sailors to risk leaving harbour. And so the sailors headed to the yacht club on Saturday night for the end of season prize giving knowing the best prize was undecided.

The Commodore was determined that a winner would be found however, and had spent his afternoon devising a new 9-gallon race which could be run in the safety of the clubhouse. Each skipper was given a small model yacht, and with carefully calculated spinners which would represent the relative speeds of the different boats they set off, slowest boats first around a map of the bay.

B&B, Lady Hamilton and Double D – or at least small replicas of – were away first, B&B making good use of her head-start and was around the (small) bell buoy before the mid-fleet Samaki, Masquerade and Detached started. Utilising a higher numbered spinner these 3 were quickly on the tails of the leaders, but then they were looking over their shoulders too as the fast boats were finally away – Deja Vu, Antix, Teemane, Monsoon, Qantro, Icon and Cold Steel creating quite a crowd around the early marks.

With the serious business of awarding the seasons prizes to be done the game was called to a finish just as Masquerade caught Lady Hamilton for the lead. 3 extra spins later the winner of the 9 gallon race was finally decided – Lady Hamilton grabbing the prize. This, fortunately, Joanna and Malcolm decided to share with their rivals. Thanks again to LWC for generously letting us drink the beer despite not sailing!

With the free beer now claimed the trophies won over the course of the season were presented. Starting with two new prizes presented to the club in memory of former members David Duke and Jim Male. These were won by Icon and Bugs Bunny.

Antix (winner of Spring, Autumn and Bank Holiday Series as well as several cup races) and Icon (Summer, Coastal, Millenium and Mid-Week winner) divided most of the class A prizes between them, with Cold Steel taking the Pursuit series and numerous runners up flags. The dominance of those 3 boats in class A has been clear all season, only a few 3^rd place flags were left for the others to fight over – Qantro claiming those to add to her runners-up spot in the pursuit series.

Masquerade gathered up most class B silverware, winning the Summer, Autumn and Bank Holiday prizes. Skywalker (Spring) and Samaki (Coastal) also secured cups and several place flags. Lady Hamilton couldn’t quite match her 9-gallon win but did gather an impressive collection of 3^rd place flags.

Race Report: Autumn 6 & 7

Race Report – October 3^rd and 4^th

It was an early start for the yacht racing fleet for the Autumn series race on Saturday and a blanket of fog was hanging over the bay, but with the marks just visible and a gentle westerly breeze blowing the race was started on time. Icon was away quickly, chased by Masquerade and Cold Steel. Most were keen to keep close to shore for the first beat, where the tide against them would be less but some, included Déjà Vu and Qantro tacked out in search of clear air.

Icon maintained her lead around the first mark, Antix had found her way upto 2^nd with Cold Steel on her heels and these three were soon heading towards the Bell Buoy with spinnakers flying. Déjà Vu, Masquerade and Samaki rounded next but as none of them used a spinnaker they were passed by Qantro. Lady Hamilton was finding the wind too light for her liking and was struggling to stay in touch.

Lap 2 was a short loop at the Whitby end of the bay. Icon was still leading but Antix was steadily gaining. Cold Steel was on her own in third then there was a larger gap to Qantro. Déjà Vu was in close company with the class B leaders, Masquerade and Samaki. At this point the leaders were still making good progress and so class A were sent around another short lap. The wind was dropping though and the rest of the fleet slowed markedly approaching H mark. Masquerade made her way through the light air the best, passing Samaki and Déjà Vu, and the class B race was shortened to the end of lap 2, so Masquerade took the win ahead of Samaki.

The lighter wind was suiting Antix too, as Icon struggled, Antix was able to overtake and pull away to win class A. Icon was second ahead of Cold Steel. For the remaining boats the last lap would be a loop too far. Qantro was just a few boat lengths from the final mark when she was becalmed, and with the tide turning against her had to retire to make the bridge, further behind Déjà Vu and Lady Hamilton also had to call it a day. 

Result: Class A; 1^st Antix – John Allen & Sand Ransom, 2^nd Icon – Neil & Lorraine Williamson, 3^rd Cold Steel – Dey, Jarvis & Gowland. Class B; 1^st Masquerade – David Miller, 2^nd Samaki – Nigel Robinson

Five boats headed out even earlier on Sunday morning for the penultimate series race of the season. The wind was still light so a short triangular course was set. Serenade of Parkstone was quickest away, but Icon and Masquerade weren’t far behind. Qantro had already made a costly error as she hadn’t left herself room to get to the first mark and would have to do a couple of extra tacks.

The second side of the triangle had the wind on the beam. Antix used her spinnaker to climb her way to the front, and so Serenade decided to try it too. A gibe onto the third leg caused no issues for Antix who now led from Icon but Serenade was slow to get her spinnaker sorted and allowed Qantro past. It was another tight reach and spinnakers were dropped before reaching the final mark.

Two more triangles followed, Antix held the lead from Icon, both fighting to carry spinnakers along two of the sides but the white-sail Masquerade was keeping up well in third, still ahead of Qantro who tried the spinnaker once in order to catch up but lost more ground with a slow drop. On the last lap the wind became much lighter and the fleet spread out. Antix finished first and as the wind dropped away the others struggled in. Icon second, Masquerade third and finally Qantro as Serenade decided to head in for the bridge. 

Result: Class A; 1^st Antix – John Allen & Sandy Ransom, 2^nd Icon – Neil Williamson, 3^rd Qantro – Nathaniel Drake. Class B; 1^st Masquerade – David Miller.