October 7th and 8th 2006

Spectre spectacularly spiflicates Marengo’s run

For a change a 54’ stinkboat got the best start on Saturday morning – always a likely consequence of an interesting startline set so near to the Fairway buoy, but Betivuka was having problems with a dragging anchor in the fearsome tide. The best start of those without twin 1000hp motors was Spectre - leading most towards the favoured Itchenor side en route to Wear in a F 3/4 westerly. Blue Phantom quickly took up the chase and was closing on the second beat when they got stuck on the grass (!). The 14 boat fleet had much to smile about wherever they finished but Spectre had the biggest smile of all.

Saturday afternoon was a race with several different leaders but at the end Solitude (Anthony Lunch at the helm) had it by the length of the experimental pole that they were (improperly but unwittingly) using. Goosander inherited the victory with Spectre just behind. This was a breezy affair in a rampant ebb that caught out quite a few as the approach speeds of opposite tack boats was greatly affected. At East Head in the closing stages Curlew lead (amazing with just two up) but elected to white sail over to the Thorney side whilst Solitude held their kite and blasted down the Itchenor side into the lead.

The Sunday morning sermon:
Are too many boats contemptuously disregarding basic start line rules (add mark rounding for good measure!) and should others be more prepared to protest to bring the deviants under control?

It was a go left beat to Rookwood from the Park start. Archon and Blue Phantom got away well, but in the subsequent short tacking it was Curlew that slipped ahead. They did not last long as they then had directional problems on the short leg to Astra. Spectre, recovering from an indifferent start, took up the lead but Archon was ahead at the end of the run to Star from Ellanore. They got the return beat to Ellanore just right and then comprehensively blew it by going too far into the beach when a straight line to the East Head eddy in the SSW breeze before going on to SWP was so obviously right – as Spectre kindly showed by advancing from 4th to a comfortable 1st in one neat move. A very sploshy ride through the eddy and over the Winner but despite Archon recovering her poise and pressuring Spectre on the beat back from Channel the order changeth not, with Curlew finishing third - for the third time.

Overlaps

A brilliant weekend’s sailing – warm autumn sunshine, breeze and excellent courses (courtesy of PRO’s David Priscott and Roddy Bridge)
The tide! So high at lunchtime on Saturday (5.2m) that the only way into the Club from a boat was through the windows of the Jubilee room, and so strong that even in a F4 one was occasionally only just making over it
Gamesmanship. Goosander was the only boat that could beat Spectre but had to finish first on Sunday to do so. At 11pm on Saturday night Goosander indicated they would race. Spectre had not planned to sail so they were obliged to review strategy in the small hours and cobble (!) together a crew and race. Come Sunday morning not a sign of life on Goosander …
A very convivial supper on Saturday evening in a packed dining room. Afterwards Carolyn hosted a ‘pub’ quiz. How come the total of the team points claimed exceeded the number of questions?!
Congratulations to Mike Wigmore for guesting so effectively at short notice in Spectre and to the crew for winning by a handsome distance on Sunday to finish with a perfect scoreline. One of those stimulating/humbling moments that must make us all wonder what we might not be doing quite right (and meanwhile Guy was winning the first J109 race of the Hamble winter series!)
For the record Blue Phantom did not go hard aground on Saturday afternoon – but did in every other race.
Yes, Marengo was racing!

1st Spectre (Guy Knight/Mike Wigmore, Andrew Abrahams/Marcia Knight and Anne Wallace) 2 pts
2nd Archon (Malcolm Green, Tony Bridgewater and James Wallace) 4 pts
3rd Curlew (Simon Slater/Paul Ward, Chris, Tony Glover) 6 pts