Second bullet for Zelda

Spinnaker handling key in the J/109 fleet on day two of Skandia Cowes Week

The Royal Thames Yacht Club set a course of 22.8nm for the 39 strong J/109 fleet, which would take them from Browndown across the Eastern and Central Solent, before a final run down past The Green to the finish. The J/109 fleet were so keen to get started on the second day of racing at Skandia Cowes Week that they caused a general recall. The black flag was hoisted for the restart but there was a considerable port bias to the line, which made it difficult for many to cross. The fleet were led from the start by Jambo! (Bruce Grant/Graham Simpson) together with Red Arrow (RAFSA). By the windward mark, Shiva (Matt Boyle) had taken the lead and the run back down the Eastern Solent with a gybe at Bob Kemp and a further run to Gilkicker-Ondeck saw them extend their lead from the following pack, which included Red Arrow, J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp), Beth (Christopher Sharples/Richard Acland) and Just So (David McGough).

A beat back to Peel Bank and a run to Browndown saw J-Dream take the lead from Shiva which they held onto for the next beat and run before losing the lead on the beat to South Bramble. South Bramble saw some of the fleet misjudge the tide and Beth and Jeez-Louise (Jamie Arnell) had an unfortunate encounter and were two of the losers.

Shiva were slow to hoist for the final run and J-Dream had an horrendous spinnaker wrap after a couple of spectacular broaches and they fell back into the pack of Red Arrow, Offbeat (David McLeman) and Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin). Zelda (Ben Richards/Michael Ewart-Smith) had a quick hoist and demonstrated their excellence in heavy air downwind sailing and benefited from clean air coming into the finish line which saw them achieve a second win of the regatta. Shiva got caught in the traffic coming down The Green to finish second. A re-hoist by J-Dream saw them catch Red Arrow on the line, to finish third on the water only to find when they returned ashore that they had been penalised as their dodger was not clearly visible, moving them to 8th. The run to the finish was a great spectacle with the mixture of classes coming into the finish, gusts of 25 knots and the confused sea.

Results:

1st - Zelda (Ben Richards/Michael Ewart-Smith)
2nd - Shiva (Matt Boyle)
3rd - Red Arrow (RAFSA)
4th - Offbeat (David McLeman)
5th - Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin)