Awkward start

A report from the JOG's Hayling Bay Race

With 38 boats entered in the Hayling Bay Race, Class 5 led the way on
a beautiful morning with a 09:00 start at Gurnard. The light northerly wind coupled with a down tide start, ensured the Class 5 boats all started somewhat cautiously to avoid being prematurely swept over the line. The fleet gently made its way past the Survey Ship Galatea with most boats managing to leave the clearing mark Snowden to starboard, although one boat was unfortunately swept the wrong side of the buoy and was left trying to get back in very little wind.

The breeze dropped further for the Class 4 start at 09:30 and despite their best efforts, a number of boats were swept over the line early. The breeze then filled into to steady south-easterly for the Class 3 start at 10:00.

With the wind filling in from the Island shore, it was the boats furthest out that had to watch those nearer to the island sail off while patiently waiting for the wind to arrive. There then followed a lovely upwind sail to Winner buoy, via the Forts. Here the three fleets starting to converge. A cross-tide white-sail reach to Warner buoy was followed by a spinnaker reach back to the Forts.

The earlier boats just managed to carry their spinnakers into the Solent before the wind changed again to a southwesterly. This wind change resulted in a classic, against-the-tide beat back to Norris, where the wind became very shifty and provided a challenging final beat back to the finish at Gurnard.

All in all a great days sailing in some of the best weather seen for a long time. The after race get-together was at The Island Sailing Club in Cowes, where the crews enjoyed the sunshine and reflected on a days great racing.

Winners: (Class, Trophy, Boat, Skipper)
Class 3, JOG Ice Bucket , Alaris, John Howell
Class 4, Dusty Miller Trophy, Longue Pierre, David Cooper & Paul
England
Class 5, Royal Naval Club & Royal, Albert Yacht Club Trophy, Alchemist
, Mark Wynter

The next race will be Friday 2nd May, Cowes to Cherbourg. For further details and individual race reports please visit www.jog.org.uk