So the forecasts this week followed the pattern of the previous couple of weeks - at the start of the week it looked as if we would have a good f5-6, by the end of the week we were back to the usual f2-3. The Hare and Hounds starts next weekend, lets hope some wind comes in to welcome the fleet.
Saturday saw the final race in the Browning series, with slightly reduced numbers for three reasons (i) Patrick Bapty's wedding, (ii) the night of drinking that preceded Patrick Bapty's wedding, and (iii) the cruiser lift-out that meant that we had to launch out of ESC. When we arrived at the club, there was virtually no wind, but it slowly filled in to a f2, but remained variable for the duration of the race.
A southerly start in a WSW wind had the fleet spread along the start line, the majority favouring the club end. I presume the intention was to sail a slightly freer course. Andy and Vicky and I started more towards the pin end, and ended up nosing out in front. That point of sail - a tight close reach - is a fantastic point of sail for the 300, and I was fortunate to be able to pull out a lead from the ISOs by Wickor. We then had a couple of upwind/downwind loops, culminating in a long beam reach back to the club. The ISOs showed good boatspeed and pulled away from the fleet with spinnakers pulling all the way from Shepherd to the club line. Andy and Vicky won by 2 seconds from me in the 300 (thats one failed mark rounding or tack!), Mike and Emma were third Slipper boat. Dave Cooper and Ed PJ were in the mix with the ISOs for much of the race, and finished a creditable 7th. Not a good day for the Lasers, not the conditions to favour the slower boats.
Sunday started much the same as Saturday, but with a splendid hangover for the RS300 representative (thanks to Chris and Michelle Hodkinson). Anyway, the wind filled to a variable N F2-3 for the Clayton Pursuit race. I really enjoy pursuit races, as you get to say hello to all areas of the fleet (excepting the faster boats, you don't want to be saying hello to them).
The Laser radials of Helen and Roger Weeks, and Sarah PJ started with an interesting variation on the course - unfortunately ESC had left the 'F' course from Saturday on the club balcony, whereas the pursuit race was set for course 'B' with a Northerly start. Anyway, despite a little confusion on the start line the Lasers led the fleet to Echo in the incredibly shifty offshore winds at the top of the harbour. We all followed, dealing with the 40 degree shifts. Fortunately the wind settled as we made out way to Little Deep, slightly filling from behind as we sailed downwind to Tye.
A quick note to the Lasers - all of you guys seem to have a very tight leech for the light winds, I thought the boat needed some vang and a light mainsheet to keep the sail open, may be a thought for next time. Ben Tang's book on Lasers is great for default sail settings (I used this book to learn about the unstayed 300 rig, lots of similarities, its out of print now but you are welcome to borrow my copy).
Anyway, once we made it downwind to Tye it was back upwind to Walsh. The first half of the beat (to Shepherd) was very shifty, and a compass was essential to make best use of the variations in wind. Tide was relatively even across the course, those playing shifts took loads out of those that weren't - I noticed the RS200 sailing an excellent leg, clearly in tune with shifts. Took a long time to break through the 200, they can point really well and clearly weren't going to let me through without a fight! I find the only way to deal with trying to break through a close cover from a slower boat is to dive to leeward (no messing about, close reach for 20 seconds to get into clear wind) and then work the boat back to windward, concentrating on pointing. Anyway, it took the majority of the leg from Shepherd to Walsh, but I sneaked past the 200 to head the fleet.
After Walsh, it was single tacks for the rest of the race which made staying in front relatively straightforward. So the 300 ended up in first, Andy and Vicky in second, and Mike and Emma were third Slipper boat. Excellent racing, many thanks to ESC for running the race and providing the patrol boat cover!
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