Though the weather man had predicted a wet day, we had lunch at the dock under sunny skies and at the start of the race.  Winds were from the south, gusting to about 20 knots.  With this direction, it was a running start.  We started with all boats over 34′, which made for a chaotic and tense sequence.  We started just behind Quest, and Ranja was behind us somewhere back in the start melee. Despite all of the dirty air in Gap, we managed to make it out in one tack.  We seemed to have problems though maintaining boat speed through the dirty air, wave and chop.  Though there wasn’t much effect of the wind on the waves in the Bay when we got out of the Eastern Gap, the waves were up to some 3 – 4 feet and when we rounded Gibraltar Continue reading Saturday, September 30 – Commodore’s Cruise & Last Mast Blast Report

We had it all this weekend: some sun & cloud with +20 knots of wind and 1 – 2 metre waves on Saturday, and then fog with some sun and light winds on Sunday.  We also had postponements both days, but mainly due to not enough anchor lines for the marks, and when they were set, the marks drifted continuously on Saturday.

None-the-less I think the first race finally got underway shortly after 12 noon, but not before some more chaos with the first division under general recall and not bothering to return to start.  This created confusion for our start with most of us initially crossing the line at our four minute gun and then once figuring it out, returning to the start line.  But when the start gun was supposed to be, there was none, finally coming over a minute late. Thank god the line was over two minutes long to accommodate the apparent error.  So after all of this, Norseman got away with a controlling start followed by Severn, Bangalore, and Quest.  (Thisbe retired before the race began).  Close on Norseman’s heels at the first mark, we closed the gap to about boat length downwind before the leeward mark which seemed to be adrift into the next start, (shades of LYRA).  Norseman rounded first, followed by Severn, Bangalore, and Quest which ended up being the final order of finish.  In the second race, one by one our competitors retired back to the EYC, leaving the field to Severn.  When the second race started (not until 2:40 pm!), we finished the race will almost no incidents with the exception of almost being nailed amidships by Band It. She lost control of the helm at first when trying to dip us, and only gained control at the last minute to miss our stern by a few feet.  The wideness of our eyes at this sight was enough to tell the story as we all held our breath.

On Sunday, a dense fog had settled off shore, shortening visibility down to about 100 yards at times.  We found the start line and then waited until about 12:30 before we started the first race.  The winds were light and the fog was a little better.  We decided to start mid line, (one of the shortest start lines I have ever seen), but was called over early and had to return to restart.  This put us in the hole early.  We later figured out that the wicked current had pushed our ass end over the line, though we were pointing low of the start pin.  We none-the-less got back into things and after finding the first windward mark, we were behind Norseman and Thisbe, followed by Bangalore and Quest.  Close was not enough, and followed the two leaders up wind and down for the finish in that order.  The second race of the day started after 2:30.  We were a little more cautious this time with our plan to hit the line at the boat end and then tack over to go for the fresher air.  However Quest, followed by Norseman and others went for the pin end and what turned out to be favoured port side of the course.  By the way both Thisbe and Bangalore were called over early, the current pushing them over as it had done to us in the first race.  Quest made it to the windward mark first, followed by Norseman, Thisbe, Severn, Bangalore.  First Norseman, then Thisbe, and then finally ourselves overtook Quest on the downwind followed by Bangalore. We closed the gap off the wind and got the inside position ahead of Thisbe, behind Norseman.  In this position we got to the second windward mark behind Norseman and just ahead of Thisbe.  Thisbe gybed away after the dog leg.  Norseman covered and we followed suit.  And then after gybing back to keep the inside position on Thisbe, the gap had narrowed between us.  Norseman by this time had increased her lead, so it was between Thisbe and ourselves in a race for second and for us 1st overall for the regatta against Norseman.  Thisbe closed with us and tried to take us up.  We went down the leg repeating this maneuver several times before Thisbe gybed away, we covered, then went at each other again. The only thing missing were the pirate hats and cutlasses as the battle continued to finish.  As we closed the finish line, with Severn in the inside, and Thisbe poised to go over us on
the top, an innocent bystander C&C 27, on starboard got in Thisbe’s way allowing us to fall over the finish line ahead to take second and win the regatta.   Some close racing, and a great sight for the fans at the finish, even though the C&C 27 might not of thought so.

Onto the Royal Weekend and where they use concrete blocks for mark anchors!

HEADLINE: SEVERN, THE ONLY EIGHT METRE TO PLACE IN ALL THREE SERIES!

You have seen some of the pictures, now for rest of the story, or at least the highlights (or as much as I can remember).  Firstly, before I begin, I would be remiss not to start with a thankyou to all of the crew who participated in this logistically challenging three weekend – two week period.  Everything from getting boats, cars and people to the various venues and home again was appreciated, and for taking personal time and time off work to deliver, drive, and race.

You should also know that the weather for the most part was some of the best of the summer which saw us safely thru while on the deliveries and in the races.  (For instance we were already tied up and on our second drink when the line squall hit Youngstown on the Friday evening).  And you know the rumours are true, having seen some of the pictures of Norseman after the collision and their crew with guns practicing for the next time.  Great time both on the race course and on the shore for all of the regattas.  The following is now some of the race story.

YOUNGSTOWN LEVELS – July 29 & 30:

The first day of the regatta started with moderate winds which enabled the Race Committee to get things off pretty much on time, (though in the first race the Beneteaus caused a delay with several recalls.  Their start was finally black flagged which kept them in line for the balance of the regatta).  Norseman won the start in the first race, followed by ourselves, Ranja and Bangalore.  Though the race was close at times, Norseman maintained her lead, and when it was all over, she easily was ahead followed by Severn, Ranja, and Bangalore.  The next race was almost a repeat of the first, but this time, we managed to close the gap significantly on the final downwind, taking Norseman’s air to almost take her at the finish line.  For the final race of the day, the winds were up.  This time we took Norseman in the first beat to get to the windward mark ahead of the fleet.  From there we increased our lead on the successive legs, finishing well ahead Norseman, followed by Bangalore and Ranja.

This set the stage for the next day.  Norseman was leading with 4 points, Severn had 5 points, Ranja had 10 points, and Bangalore 11.  Though with two races scheduled, with light winds forecasted, if only one race was sailed, first and third places were basically going to be settled on who beat who.   Well one race is what we got.  With varying light winds in direction and velocity, things got started after a substantial delay.  The position of the start line was ripe for a pin end port start or at least get to the pin and tack immediately, if you could.  As things unfolded, we decided to go for the pin end port start.  It worked beautifully.   With maximum boat speed for the light air, we passed across and ahead of the rest of our fleet, who were all on starboard.  Norseman tacked almost immediately to go onto port.  Ranja and Bangalore carried on along on starboard to the left side of the course.  We covered Norseman tack for tack up the course and continued to pull away gaining ourselves about quarter mile lead over the rest of the fleet, who by this time were all coming back towards the right side of the course.  Then disaster struck.  The winds went to almost nothing, and filled in from the port side of the course with the first beneficiary being Norseman, then Bangalore, followed by Ranja, leaving us to the last.  Within minutes our substantial lead evaporated, the fleet reversed itself and from there the order of finish was determined.  With the win Norseman won the Severn’s Bell Trophy and we had to settle for second spot overall, followed by Bangalore in 3rd and then Ranja.  Discouraging to say the least, but we have been on the receiving end of lady luck ourselves so we know how it comes and how it can goes.

LYRA Regatta in Sodus Bay – August 4 – 6:

It may takes some time to forget some of the results of this regatta.  On the first day, the winds were up.  We started the race I believe with our number 2 genoa and in close proximity of Bangalore and Norseman.  Bangalore attempted to force us over the line early, as Norseman under Bangalore was trying to do it to him.  We believed we responded adequately to the hails made by Bangalore, going up when we had to.  However, apparently Bangalore was not responding adequately to Norseman’s hails which resulted in a protest flag from Norseman and followed by Bangalore hoisting a flag against Severn.   After the yelling had abated, we settled in and succeeded to pull into the lead, followed by the others who were not too far behind.  At the end of the first downwind, we were made aware that the turn mark had come adrift and a mark boat with a code flag M was on station as the replaced mark.  With the winds up we were coming down too fast, and by the time we had this information we were committed to the run-away mark and decided to go around both.  Meanwhile behind us Norseman and Bangalore, apparently never even knew there was a replacement mark, much less that the leeward mark was loose.  They both rounded the run away mark, which by this time had drifted into the actual start line of the Beneteau 40s.  Apparently Norseman had been hailing Bangalore to go up after rounding the mark, when she was promptly hit by Polestar who was close hauled.  Norseman sustained three holes, in her hull to the extent that she had to withdraw and protest Bangalore for the second time in that race. The rest of the race was somewhat uneventful with Severn winning followed by Bangalore and Ranja.  For the next two races, the winds came up even more, which resulted us using first our number 3 and then our number 4 jib.  But the real success was seeing Ranja come into her own with the increase of wind.  She not only won the first beats of these races, but easily from there won both races handily over Severn and Bangalore.  On shore, the protests saw Bangalore get the punt by Norseman, and Norseman get the punt by Polestar.  However, going back to the first altercation on start line of the first race, Bangalore withdrew their protest against Severn after we decided to do a too late 720 “just-in-case”.  However Norseman went thru with their protest against Bangalore, and the Protest Committee deemed that Severn was the cause of this early infraction and if we didn’t withdraw they were going to protest us.  So we came away with a 5 for this race which we at least could throw out if enough races were sailed.

The next day, though certainly not as exciting as the day before if you like that kind of thing, the winds were moderate.   We had two good races on the next day, being the first classic in the first race and second behind Norseman in the next race ahead of Ranja and Bangalore.  The tie looming between Ranja and us was coming down to the last day and whether there was going to be throwout or not.  In perfect 8 Metre winds and seas, in the first race of last day, we had a great start, ahead of the fleet at the pin favoured end of the line.  Ranja was pushed off or over early, and had to start late.  We had a comfortable lead, but things seemed to erode quickly, starting with Natural tacking on our air, and before long also forcing us to take dirt from Norseman.  And before we knew it we were in third spot with Ranja catching up all the time.  In the off-wind leg, going for home, Ranja got on our air, and before we recovered, she clipped us to win at the finish line.  In the final race, we had a perfect start, perfect first beat, ahead of all including Natural, who only took us at the end of the second beat.  We finished with a strong second over Norseman, followed by Ranja, and Bangalore.  When the points were counted, we lost to Ranja by one point, who won the Gooderham Trophy. We had to settle for second spot, followed by Norseman in third and Bangalore in fourth.   The word from this regatta is that we are all going to have to watch out for Ranja when the wind is up!

8 Metre North Americans – August 8 – 11:

After a day off to get over the final LYRA results, we entered into the NAs with some expectation that we had shown promise in the LYRA, and maybe this would translate into some success in the next series.  We had the tune-up race in the Bay, which was akin to sailing a large Tuesday night race in Toronto with spinnakers.  We had a good start at the boat end of the line and tacked away onto port for clear air.  The other boats in the race were Golden Feather, Thisbe, Bangalore, and Ranja.   We kept protecting the right side of the course and established a healthy lead, but almost blowing it with Ranja at the first leeward mark rounding, recovering just in time to gybe away to defend against Thisbe and Bangalore.  We got around the mark clear ahead and increased our lead upwind to win the race and the two prizes for first boat overall and first classic.  (Golden Feather had to drop out when she had some equipment failure).

For the first two days, we started the first race in very light winds, lumpy seas at times, and varying wind directions.  In both cases the second race each day was sailed in moderate and steady winds with less seas.   I guess the first race was not very memorable, because I cannot remember a thing about it.  Maybe it was because we got sixth place finish overall, though I seem to remember Bangalore going for the left side all the way, and leveraging herself into second spot at the windward mark and keeping it to finish behind Golden Feather in that race, followed by Mystery in third.  In the second race, with the winds up, we had a great first beat, finding ourselves in third spot behind Mystery and ahead of the Natural.  We lost a position to Natural off the wind eventually but held our spot to finish fourth, and first classic to finish.  The next day saw the same again, but even lighter to start than the day before.   In the first race, after forcing Norseman off the start, we followed Bangalore to the left side and at times thought we were in good shape only to have the winds shift around to favour Norseman who overtook us.  We managed to hang on to beat Thisbe and Ranja, but behind both Bangalore and Norseman.  In the second race of the day, with the winds more steady but still moderate, Bangalore went left again and took an early lead in the Classics with Thisbe also ahead of us.  Our finish was the same as the first race of the day but ahead of Norseman and Ranja.  Golden Feather again won the overall keeping her record intact winning all of the first four races.

Going into the final day, Bangalore had a commanding lead in the Classics (third overall), with ourselves and Norseman and Thisbe all close for the runner-up position.  The winds blew from the north all night and left a large sea on the Lake.  It was decided with diminishing winds, that we voted to stay in the Bay rather than go out into the lake for the sake of the boats and crew.  In the first race, again with channels of wind which felt like sailing in the Toronto Bay, things got underway in moderate winds and ever changing velocities.  Other than Mystery, who with just minutes before the start got her wings stuck in the weeds, everyone at different times looked as though they were in great shape.  In the end, after Golden Feather, the finish was almost too close to call with Bangalore, Thisbe, Natural, Severn, and Ranja all finishing within the same 30 seconds of each other.  We took a fifth in this race. Norseman fouled the leeward mark and after having to do a 360 saw herself largely out of contention.  In the next race, again close, we were able to get through both Ranja and Thisbe at the leeward mark narrowly missing each other, but the next beat saw Thisbe come into her own, picking the winds shifts beautifully to take a convincing second place overall, followed by Mystery.  After getting through Bangalore off the wind we were next, with Bangalore close on our heels followed by Natural and Norseman, and Ranja.   Golden Feather won the overall in a clean sweep, Bangalore winning the Classics and we finished third.

The final standings for the North Americans are attached to this email, and while our results were a little disappointing, we also had some very good moments.  The overall regatta was great fun with the Sodus Bay Yacht Club doing a great job on the race course as well as the hospitality shown us on the shore, as witnessed by those who took in the opening reception, après race beer keg, and the steaks at the final awards dinner.  Many thanks to Tom Knapp and all of the SBYC member volunteers as well as the US contingent for a very unique night over drinks, dinner, and guns.

See those who are scheduled at EYC next weekend.

What a weekend !  Lots of action on the water and the shore.  Full of highs and lows on the race course under some unusual weather conditions last weekend.  Winds were for the most part from the north & easterly and even cool at times.  If you didn’t put on the sunscreen you paid the price.  Please forgive me if I haven’t remembered everything as it exactly happened or some of the detail; afterall it has been some five days since the regatta started, and they say that your memory is the first thing to go.

We started the regatta with a postponement on Friday.  The winds finally picked up enough to start shortly after lunch.  Under 5 knots of breeze seven eight metres crossed the start line on their way up the windward leg.  We struggled to get clear air and find the favoured side of the course only to find ourselves nearer the back of the pack at the first mark.  As frustrating as it was, we clawed our way back into contention off the wind by overtaking Bangalore and Ranja, and closing the gap between us and the next 8, being Norseman.  Going up the second beat, the leaders, Venture and Thisbe got into a tacking duel, leaving Norseman to cover Severn and watch the leaders.  The race was shortened at the windward mark, allowing Venture to take first, followed by Thisbe, Norseman, and Severn with Ranja finishing next, then Bangalore and Quest.

Day two winds were a little more promising, perhaps around 7 + knots at times.  In the first race, we went for the pin end of the line and peeled off several of our rivals to gain an early lead on the first buck.  We seemed to pick the right velocity channels and shifts to reach the windward first.  From there we covered the competition on the downwind, and even improved our position going into the second beat.  Again on the next leg, we found the wind shift to improve our position and cover the fleet up the beat.  After rounding the windward mark with a comfortable lead we then simply covered all the way to the finish line ahead of Venture and Thisbe, followed by Norseman, Bangalore, Ranja, and Quest.  A near flawless race for us with some great sail handling and tactics.  In the second race, it was much closer between us and Venture. Venture gained the lead from the start with Thisbe some distance behind us.  Venture allowed us to sail our own race off the wind, and though we closed we had to settle for her covering us all the way up the second beat.  On the run for home, Vetnure gybed away from us, leaving Severn to do our own thing, which when we next closed, we had overtaken Venture just short by a starboard position over port.  We gybed away, but not well, which enabled Vetnure to hold her lead and we had to settle for second spot ahead of Thisbe and the rest of the fleet.

On the third and final day, the winds were up to 10+ knots by the end of the day.  In the first race, we seemed to be engaged with Thisbe and Venture early on in the race following the start.  Venture after gaining the lead, left Thisbe and Severn to battle for the next spot.  Though we were close at times, couldn’t seem to crack Thisbe’s cover and had to settle for third spot ahead of Ranja, Bangalore, Norseman, and Quest.  In the final race, Venture and Thisbe had the controlling position on us from the favoured end of the line, though we finally appeared to take Thisbe after she tacked to cover us.  By the time we reached the starboard layline side of the course, we found ourselves with Thisbe, and Venture, who had covered both of us, in the last three spots of the race going into the windward mark!  All of the rest of the fleet while we were closely covering and racing each other, went to the port side of the course and with a shift came into the mark ahead led by Quest, Norseman, Ranja, and Bangalore.  From there we couldn’t seem to get back into race despite trying to do some different things on each leg.  In the end we came dead last or so we thought until Norseman to those honours, who had finished second but touched the finish mark and failed to return and reround properly.  The winner at the finish was Ranja, her first of the season!

In the end we were awarded third spot overall in the regatta and though it doesn’t seem to matter who the leaders are each year, for the third year in a row!  Some great crew work over the regatta together with a few laughs over the free pours, made for a good regatta.  All in all some close and competitive racing over the three days for everyone.  Now for a weekend off for the Canada Day holiday coming up, then the QCYC Open for our next race (and for those of you who were wondering, the return of the Denis sandwiches).

For more information on the NOOD regatta, visit the Sailing World website:  htttp://www.sailingworld.com

For a listing of the Final Results: http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=42951&typeID=403&catID=621&exclude=NOOD

Also Check out the Severn picture in this article: http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=42952&typeID=403&catID=621&exclude=NOOD

And others: http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=42955&typeID=403&catID=621

Upcoming Races:

QCYC Open Regatta – Saturday, July 8

PCYC Open Regatta – Saturday, July 15 & Sunday, July 16

Updated From:

NOOD Regatta.  Lots of action all weekend on the water and the shore.  The three days activities and weather produced some very tired, sore, and sunburnt crew.

The Sailing World (NOOD) link follows to find out who finished where in each race.   And some of our story behind the race results will follow later next week.

http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=42947&typeID=403&catID=621&exclude=

Two days of racing and two entirely different wind conditions. On Saturday, it blew stink, under sunny skies and cool temperatures. We had upwards to 34 knots on our wind gauge, verified by Venture who clocked 32. One by one, even before we left the dock most of the competitors dropped out (Thisbe, Quest, Ranja, and Norseman), leaving only ourselves, Venture and Bangalore.

We did not even think about using our newer main, starting the race with our number 3 jib. We had a good start, but Venture jumped into the lead with Severn close on her heels by the time we reached the windward mark, followed some distance back by Bangalore. Just before that we almost lost Will over the side, but he managed to get back on board. And then the fun happened ……after rounding the dog leg, a series of events happened which determined the outcome of the race. We hoisted our trusted 1.5 oz heavy air spinnaker, and had it flying briefly when a gust of wind hit, 30 knots by Venture’s wind gauge, causing us to round up and almost broach. And while trying to get things under control, the downhaul broke causing the pole to sky. We finally got things under control by getting the spinnaker off. Some how in the process the pole topping lift also became unattached and went up the mast, too far for us to get it. And on top everything, Dave ripped his shoulder strap on his foul weather pants. By this time, Venture had too much of a lead to allow us to make it close. We finished second behind Venture and ahead of Bangalore.

On the second race of the day, as the wind seemed to be increasing we went with our # 4 jib. After getting a good start on the leveraged side of Venture we started to take Venture upwind. They appeared to be overpowered with their number 3. We beat Venture to windward mark by about 2-3 boat lengths. Unfortunately with our smaller jib, (too windy to put up a spinnaker), they had better speed and got the inside position on us, and rounded the leeward mark by a couple of boat lengths. From there Venture covered us, and the order of finish was same as the first race.

Today’s races turned out to be a perfect number 1 jib day. This time only Quest and Thisbe stayed back as the wind at the dock was again giving indication that it was going to be a heavy air day. They missed a good one. In the first race, we had with the exception of Bangalore what appeared to be the best boat end start. We had Norseman and Bangalore after the start, but as things developed, Ranja who went to the left side of the course was the real winner getting to the windward mark first followed by Venture and then Norseman, who also got by us by achieving enough leverage on the left side, (by not much more than a port – starboard call)! Ranja held the lead downwind, but then lost it to Venture on the next beat. The rest of us followed each other which dictated the order of finish: Venture, Ranja, Norseman, Severn, and Bangalore.

On the second race, the entire fleet went left, and then followed into line on the port layline, all fairly close led by Venture, followed by Ranja, Norseman, and then Severn and Bangalore. On the downwind, we decided to go high of Norseman and the others, prepared to gybe for the leeward gate. We overtook Norseman and Ranja and got our buoy room to position ourselves into second spot. Upwind we closed the gap on Venture to several boat lengths and continued to increase our lead on the others. Meanwhile Ranja had succeeded in getting ahead of Norseman, but lost it again downwind by waiting too long to gybe for the final run for home. We continued to keep close to Venture, but not enough to get on her air and again had to settle for second, followed by Norseman, Ranaja, and Bangalore

Some good racing and sail handling, (especially the overtaking of Norseman & Ranja and getting our buoy room in the last race), though the Saturday was a lot of work. It obviously created a lot of thirst, as those who took advantage of the free pour before dinner will testify. After the practice next Thursday, we have a weekend off before heading into the NOODs June 23-25. Other than the EYC boats we expect a full contingent on the start line.

What a difference one day makes compared with the rains of yesterday.  The Sunday forecast promised some winds and sun.  We got the sun, and at times some wind, but it was light and variable.

In the first race, we had a good start towards the favoured pin end of the line, just behind Norseman, but ahead of Thisbe and the others.   We squeezed Thisbe off after a period of time, forcing her to the right side of the course.  We carried on with Norseman, but the favoured left side seemed to erode, by about some 20 degrees!  When we came back to the right side, Thisbe, Ranja, and Bangalore (who started late and went to the right side after the start), were all well ahead of Norseman and Severn.  We followed downwind in last spot and then due to a lack of wind we couldn’t make the port gate mark to go back upwind but were in position to bear off and take the other mark which enabled us to get ahead of Norseman.  From there the order was the same at the finish: Thisbe, Ranja, Bangalore, Severn, Norseman.

In the second race, we got the favoured pin end of the start, but then the winds seemed to once again change and favour the right side boats …… which in the end was everyone but Severn.  On the first downwind at the end of the parade after the mark, we gybed away, which enabled us to get ahead of Ranja.  We then gybed again further down the leg and overtook Norseman before the gate marks.  We covered and increased our lead on both these boats, but couldn’t catch up to Bangalore, who lost their lead to Thisbe in the second buck.  The order of finish was Thisbe, Bangalore, Severn, Norseman, Ranja.

Very challenging races with the changing wind direction being very much a factor.  Some good sail handling (supporting some of our practicing) despite the difficult wind conditions.  Next weekend, the whole RCYC fleet is expected including a repaired and newly painted Quest together with the always difficult to be beat Venture.

Summer has begun. All the ingredients were there with warm temperatures, sunny skies, and light winds combined to make a great day on the water.

In the first race, Venture jumped out ahead at the start, with Severn close on her heals at the first mark, followed by Thisbe, Norseman, Ranja, and Bangalore. With a wind shift it was a spinnaker reach to the next mark. Over the next two legs this order was pretty much maintained, giving Severn a second place finish behind Venture and ahead of Norseman, Thisbe, Ranja, Bangalore.

In the second race, the wind shifts continued to be a factor. According to our readings, almost 20 degrees depending which side of the course you were on. We went for a pin end start which proved to be unfavourable as the first leg unfolded. We found ourselves in last place at the first mark, but were able to overtake three boats downwind by the time we made the next mark, now ahead of Thisbe, Ranja, and Bangalore. On the next leg, Thisbe went left, we went right, but stayed too long and by the time we crossed, Thisbe was ahead of us. On the final run for home, we found ourselves in a very close race with Ranja, both of us behind the leaders. In the end we squeaked out ahead of Ranja at the finish but behind Venture, Norseman and Thisbe.

We had a great clear air start in the middle of the line for the third race. At the boat end of the start there was more excitement. Venture pushed Bangalore over early and Thisbe bailed at the start which we found out later was that they were confused with the two guns, one being for the start and one was for the over early notice. Venture and Norseman took the lead early in the first leg, with Severn sitting in third spot, followed by Ranja, Thisbe, and Bangalore. In the downwind leg nothing much changed, but in the next leg with the wind shifts still playing favorites, we lost our spot to Thisbe and Ranja caught up significantly. Going for home, the winds went very light and depending where you were, with exception of Venture, it was anyone’s race. With the position changing several times, at the finish, Norseman lost her second spot to Thisbe at the boat end, and Norseman finished just ahead of Severn by half a boat length at the pin end, followed by Ranja and Bangalore.

The day finished out with the customary après refreshments back at the dock on the boats and for those who were able to stay, for some enjoyable bring your own BBQ fare in the marine yard triangle. A great season opener, setting the fleet up, (hopefully Quest too, who is undergoing some Sailpast docking repairs which is a whole other story), for the first race of the LORC series next weekend.

The Fleet Captn’s Race, Saturday, May 13 – first blood of the season goes to SEVERN !

What a great day ! Despite Harold’s ominous weather forecasts all week long, Saturday turned out just perfect. The winds were about 11/12 knots from the southeast and we had sun, (though with a little fog threaten at times from the east).

Only two Eights were ready to race, though everyone is in the water except Quest. The race started after lunch off the main dock in the harbour. (The start format for the entire RCYC fleet was based on the PHRF rating which determined each boats start time……the start time for Severn and Norseman was 23.55 after the first gun!?!). Though this made things confusing, we managed to figure it out and hit the preferred boat end of the line just five seconds shy. Norseman seemed to be farting around at the pin end and was about some 30 seconds late on top of that. Using our #2 jib, we got away from the start and hit the Eastern Gap first, and then out to the Lake. We hoisted our 3/4 oz spinnaker, held our own across the top of the Island. After the gybe, it was apparent that our flatter shute was better for the closer angle of the wind down the western side of the Island. We entered the Western Gap and unfortunately had to make an additional tack to Norseman’s two, but none-the-less held our lead and even increased the distance after the Western Gap. In the end we beat Norseman by over a minute and half, which was also helped by Norseman loosing a man overboard briefly on her run for the finish.

Ced Gyles