Spence Willard 3- 4 1st of July

Published 16:42 on 5 Jul 2023

Perfect Force 4 to 5 gusting 6 south westerly Round the Island race conditions, meet the small but hardy fleet of BHYC Sailors, for the July "First of the Month"Windward/Leeward Race.

After a short postponement due to a pre-race capsize, Race Officer Chris Wilkinson and Assistant RO Polly Schafer set the Committee Boat Anchor and Start/Finish Line due East of mark Footprint(Y) for a hard "on the nose" Half Mile Beat upwind to Old Church(O) and Port mark rounding onto the "dead run" back downwind to the Leeward Gate for the two lap race and finish back down through the Committee Boat line.

With the gusty conditions not abating, heavily reefed Black Swan with John Mills and gallant crew Linda Briant aboard, decided to retire leaving Swan Scottie with stalwarts Andy and Sam Steward sporting a full rig, to join the Fast Fleet for average series points.

Following a good start by all crews, the tough beat ensued up to Old Church with Tony Burton magnificently crewed by Club FF15 legend Martyn Davies on the "Wire", of the insanely quick Laser 4000 in these conditions and were first round the top mark, planning off at full speed down the run, but sensibly sparing the intricacies and terrors of kite hoisting and gybing in the increasing and gusty breeze.

But not far behind was the intrepid Flying Fifteen of Roger and Jill Herbert, (designed way back in 1947 by the Master Uffa Fox and crafted for exactly these Sprightly Solent conditions) were now daringly sporting their symmetrical spinnaker for the optimum downhill planning sleigh ride and course made good. After two gruelling rounds with positions remaining the same saw a screaming Laser 4000 finish with line honours eventually going to Tony and Martyn, second Roger and Gill in the FF15 although taking a fine first place overall from the Laser 4000 in second on corrected time. With a real sporting third place for Swan Scottie, earning Andy and Sam valuable average points for Slow Handicap in SPW Summer series.

Further racing was abandoned for the day, due to increasing and gustier wind conditions !

Very well done to all competitors in the testing conditions and most especially "The Volunteers", Rory and Jonathan my trusty mark layers the tireless patrol boat Ian and Paula Poulter, without which none of this would be possible and finally last but not least my hardworking Assistant Race Officer Polly!

Chris Wilkinson

Race Officer

Last updated 20:04 on 9 October 2024