Blustery day

While Warsash Spring Series racing is cancelled, the Royal Southampton multis brave the conditions

The first race of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club’s Spring series was held on Sunday 14 March and saw a southerly breeze of around 25 knots which gusted over 45 knots.

The Race Management Team of Kirsteen Donaldson, David Giddings, Kay Abbott, Tina Scott, Anne Tuffnell, and Tony Morgan set the Committee Boat near Netley and did well to lay a windward mark and the startline in winds that saw the Warsash Spring Series Race 1 cancelled.

Seven of the eight multihulls entered for the series made an appearance in the starting area. Brian Haynes’ Farrier 33 Carbon Tiger II was not able to start as teething problems with the gooseneck assembly caused a small crack in the carbon boom. Six multihulls started, all but Steve Hewitt’s F28R Triptych were well reefed. Blue Minnell was setting a triple-reefed main, while the remainder opted for two reefs.

All the boats chose to start at the starboard pin end of the line with Dragonfly 800s Scooby III and Blue Minnell and Strider Tigger on starboard and George Burn’s F27 Smokey Bear on port. The three-quarter mile beat saw Tigger round in the lead, followed by Scooby and Triptych. Sheik Yerbouti opted to retire after experiencing a lot of lee-helm under reduced rig. Smokey Bear also retired due to sail damage.

The reach to Hovercraft 1 buoy saw Triptych catch Scooby just after the turning mark. The third leg saw Tigger and Triptych heading off into the Solent in search of the new mark of Hamblecliff Buoy while Alice Mavrogordato navigating on Scooby for the first time guided Scooby around the mark and in to the lead on the reach to Deans Lake. Scooby maintained the lead on the half mile reach to After Barn and beat to the Royal
Southampton Buoy. Triptych overpowered and regularly stuffing her bows despite the flat water regained the lead on the half mile run to Hovercraft 2. On the half mile beat to Hythe Ship Buoy 5 Triptych passed ahead of an out-bound ship, but Scooby was forced to sail behind the ship losing precious time as Triptych stormed to an impressive first to finish. On the last leg to the finish Strider Tigger just overtook Scooby to finish 12 seconds ahead.

RSYC Spring Series continues on 21 March.

For more details contact Sailing Secretary, RSYC, Tel: 023 80 223352 or email racing@rsyc.org.uk

PROVISIONAL RESULTS SPRING SERIES RACE 1

Corrected Time positions, Elapsed times
1 Triptych 2, Corsair F28R – 0:43:10 Steve Hewitt, David Saph
2 Tigger, Strider 24 – 0:47:36 Ben Goodland, Mike Yates
3 Scooby III, Dragonfly 800 – 0:47:48 Simon Forbes, Alice Mavrogordato, Emma Little
4 Blue Minnell, Dragonfly 800 – 0:50:35 Tim Wilson, Tony Perks, Gonzo Haynes
DNF Smokey Bear, Corsair F27 –George Burn, Martin Leigh, Alan Scrase
DNF Sheik Yerbouti, Farrier F25C – Ian Loffhagen, Simon Burt, Helena
Darvelid
DNS Carbon Tiger II , Farrier F33 – Brian Haynes, Rob Gutteridge, Keith
Bliss, John Downey
DNC Firebird, John Fildes