Summer Race 4

Margaret D

Twofold Bay Yacht Club

Race report -  Sunday 29^th January 2012.

Blustery Day on the Bay

Race four of the Summer series saw a reduced fleet to battle the predicted strong wind warning from the northeast with only 5 intrepid boats and crews lining up to the start line at Quarantine bay.

The sailing committee selected a rectangular 10.8 NM course within the inner bay area utilising the permanent marks of Red Reef, Navy Wharf ,Snug Cove and Quarantine bay, to reduce the exposure of the fleet to the  blustery conditions of the outer bay .

The start was a tight encounter between Old Habits, Margaret D, and Ruby 11,with Old Habits showing great speed and quickly climbing away to windward, Livid and Themopylae were slower across the line but gathered speed in the freshening breeze gusting over 20 knots.Old Habits retained the favoured windward position up the windward leg towards Snug Cove with Ruby 11 sailing fast to leeward and headed Old Habits when disaster struck! Ruby's crew watched their spinnaker pole slide over the side so they immediately attempted to recover the floating pole.This required them to furl the headsail and in doing so the furling gear jammed and could not be remidied in the freshening conditions and unfortunately Ruby11 retired to Quarantine Bay where repairs were successfully carried out.

Meanwhile Livid was quickly overtaking Old Habits on the reaching legs with the little Gaff rigged Couta Boat Margaret D revelling in the conditions only a few minutes behind the two leaders. Livid managed to overtake Old Habits and lead the fleet into the last windward leg back to Snug Cove. But disaster struck again,this time Old Habits, virtually in the same position as the Ruby problem, blew out the headsail as a severe gust came out of Snug Cove. Frantic sail removal and replacement was underway on board by the crew but at least 10 minutes was lost before Old Habits was underway again.

This delay allowed Livid to increase her lead as well as helping Margaret D and Thermopylae gain time on Old Habits. Livid sailed on taking Line honours from Old Habits and Margaret D

The Handicap results ( Provisional) show Margaret D first,followed by Livid Thermopylae and Old Habits. It was a great days sailing in heavy weather but some bad luck for both Ruby 11 and Old Habits cost them any chance of being on the Podium.

Next week is sternchaser No 4 and Ladies Skipper Day Trophy commencing at 1200 hours on Saturday followed by a BBQ at the clubhouse.