Marengo dominates one-day event

The problem with setting the entry deadline for 10.00 on the day event was that no-one had any idea how many would turn up - or go to school sports days, the local fete (Goodwood Festival of Speed), or who might take a view on a not altogether promising forecast.  Happily the mid-week total of 8 evolved into a much-improved championship entry of 23.

PRO Alastair Shaw promised champagne sailing conditions in Bracklesham Bay on Saturday and duly delivered them.  The start line for Race 1 was better suited to the same number of 420’s and had enough bias to put the Committee Boat at serious risk.  Was anyone actually behind the line?  Away cleanly at the second I flag attempt with a solid F4 and a fairly lumpy and awkward sea, Solitude and Spectre were front running with Skua, Blue Phantom and Avocet (like the new sails!) moving quickly up front. The first downwind leg of the 5 lap sausage course offered the novel option (to a Swallow fleet) of alternate leeward marks and which made for some interesting approaches as the fleet surfed in and triggered much place-changing, particularly mid-fleet.  After a mediocre start Marengo found overdrive and by the end of the third lap was in front, their offwind gains were particularly impressive and faultless upwind tactics kept Skua, Solitude, Blue Phantom and Buccaneer (showing useful speed with Mike Bond, Mike Burnford and Chris Newnes) at bay before finishing after 5 laps.

Away cleanly for the second Olympic triangle race Blue Phantom, Cockersootie, Avocet and Spectre were going well with Darter, Marengo and Solitude pursuing.  Unlike others Marengo did not hesitate to hoist on the first reach and was quickly sharing the lead and had got through by the leeward mark.  Spectre’s challenge was extinguished when the gooseneck boom plate expired and Blue Phantom got to be the best of the rest with Skua, Darter and Avocet in close attendance.  Marengo just kept on extending her lead until the race was shortened at the windward mark.  It was most unfortunate that rather too many boats tried a port tack approach to the pin end at the finish and when faced with a line of starboard arrivals found they had nowhere to go. The mayhem was extraordinary and redress justly given.

Sunday’s forecast had been unfriendly for a few days and early morning rain and average wind speeds over 25 knots meant out of harbour sailing was out of the question and a postponement to 1pm to decide on the in-harbour option was agreed (the voting system might need to be more carefully scrutinized in the future!). The wind had been abating and a much-reduced fleet was brought under starters orders on the Gallon line.  That is as far as it got.  The wind capriciously rose in strength again to 28 knots and the ebb – now at max – was creating some short, sharp seas.  The two planned races were cancelled and the boats flew back to their moorings.

The Championships have been bedevilled by strong winds in recent years.  It’s almost as if after several weeks of light winds the wind Gods decide to let loose this particular weekend.  Saturday was brill – hard work but exhilarating and the conditions were perfect.  The RO team were inventive.  Just a pity we could not have had another day like it.

1st 82 Marengo (Carolyn Brigg, Sue Glover and David Sloper)
2nd  3 Skua (Harry and Prue Roome, Mark Chilton)
3rd 55 Blue Phantom (Chris and Nick Creak, Tony Offredi)
4th 88 Darter (Tony Glover, Richard Jackson, Mike Clarke)

Thurne Trophy (First Lady) Carolyn Brigg
Fractured hip Trophy (total crew age >180) Darter.

In passing:

• Tit bits from Marengo’s table – boys why don’t you use the backstay?
• Boats what sail flat to windward go faster (just watch Blue Phantom and Avocet – both ex Merlin Rocketeers)
• An understanding of the significance of N & S cardinal marks could be helpful unless you fancy adding to the target debris.
• Does the (performance) bar keep on moving up?