04/05/2009 Racing Report 2-4 May 2009 Across the south of England, citizens, leaders, employed and unemployed, pensioners and children awoke to a bright morning. The employed and children probably the most excited about the three day weekend ahead, especially if they were sailors.
The Solent was at its best, glittering in bright may sunshine, a gentle breeze and flat seas tempting out cruisers and racers. In Cowes along the Parade and High Street the day boat sailing fraternity greeted each other enthusiastically after the long winter’s hibernation.
Day 1 - Saturday 1st May
For the Dragons - Ecstatic bobbled friskily on the mooring after Eric Williams’ exhibition sail the previous weekend, teaching us how it’s done. In the Yacht Haven Cavalier, Njord and Dilemma completed their final preparations in slightly better form by than the previous weekend, joined by Aimee helmed by Julia Bailey, with the family in support Richard Bailey, Katie, and the Cowes Week secret weapon Joe.
On the line there was only one starting place, creeping round the Squadron Castle “moat effect” extension. Unfortunately the Dragons appeared scared of the Mermaid and milled around like 13 year olds at a school dance in the middle of the line. Once they realised the raced started Eric stamped his authority on the fleet, and with the Richard Jordon guesting with regular Jo Richardson as crew, us lesser mortals expected and received a whipping. Julia Bailey in Aimee hung on to Ecstatic’ transom but the rest of the fleet waved goodbye.
The Royal London provided an excellent course, Gurnard to starboard, Universal Marine to port , through the line, Island sailing club starboard (the old AA marine), North Ride middle, Gales and home.
On Sunday – great excitement as the 2 race day flag was raised by the Royal London, largely due to Colonel Singer’s powers of persuasion.
The wind had gone northwest and was flicking north so the committee sent the fleet to Royal Thames, back to Prince consort, through the Line, Williams Shipping, Prince Consort and to the finish.
The fleet were closely packed at the start near Trinity House, all heading west on starboard. That was the lesser mortals …. Ecstatic tardy at the start tacked on to port following the old adage – when the wind ‘s in the north go north, and led around the first mark by 2 minutes, leaving Aimee and Njord to duel it out for second on the subsequent legs.
Order: Ecstatic, Njord, Aimee, Cavalier, Dilemma
Sunday - Race 2
Dilemma sent her apologies and headed back to London to keep the legal system going. The second race started on a beam spinnaker reach to Gales. Aimee got the best start but Njord sneaked through their lee in the unstable winds. We thought the master might be having a knap, looking back on Ecstactic’s colourful spinnaker – convex rather than the normal concave view. Cavalier started in shore due to some confusion, so gave away the line bias and brought up the rear.
After Gales the fleet headed of on port to the Bramble bank for a spot of tide cheating to Air Canada, positions remaining the same. A lively reach to Flying fish followed with the three leaders bunching but no place changes. This continued for the remaining legs to Hill Head and West Ride Middle, but a closely fought race with the first 3 boats finishing within 40 seconds of each other, after a very tense fetch home.
Order: Njord, Aimee, Ecstatic, Cavalier
Champagne Weekend social RCYC
A select band of 10 Dragonistas gathered for the first champagne weekend social at the Royal Corinthian. The management politely suggested we occupy the captain’s room and the volume of conversation was so loud, people in the bar kept requesting we keep the door closed. Jo Richardson and Tony Singer departed from Dragon tradition by instigating a game of charades. Eric couldn’t quite manage to mime “The Duchess” on his own so Mrs Issiais stepped in, and we all decided after that it was best to finish on a high.
Day 3 - Monday 3rd May
Monday was colder grey day with the wind returning to the south west gusting up to force five. No sign of Supremacy, or Richard, or the British Army, so we feared the worst … but went sailing anyway. Aimee clearly won the start as Njord and Cavalier may have been suffering from the jolities of the evening before.
A good beat to Gurnard Ledge was followed by a marginal surfing run to West Knoll, Aimee retained a 40 second lead which they threw away on the beat back to Lepe Spit, by over standing allowing Njord through. A fast but long reach back to West Ride Middle followed, with Aimee chewing Njord’s transom several times. There was a tense beat back from West Ride Middle to the finish line with the added complication of bank holiday cruisers presenting themselves as additional and unpredictable course obstructions. Despite it being Julia's birthday, Njord was giving nothing away, but it was closely fought to the line.
Order: Njord, Aimee, Cavalier
The first champagne weekend was won by Njord, but a huge contributing factor has to be Ecstatic’ absense on Monday.
