09/06/2009 Racing report - 6 - 7 June Saturday 6th June, Royal Thames was in the driving seat from the Royal London, and through some persuasion from the Class Captain agreed to a 2-race day for the Dragons. The Darings elected for a more traditional 3hr jaunt round the Solent, but our fleet wanted a bit more nip and tuck which the Royal Thames gamely provided).
There was a pleasant 12-15 knot easterly, and nice sunny day. For the first race Royal Thames set a course of West Ryde Middle to starboard, Peel Bank to starboard and home.
Four Dragons amassed at the start line and in the ebbing tide the obvious place to start was inshore, inside the Medina channel buoys, or in Jerboa’s case inside the London pontoon. The fleet showed extraordinary enthusiasm for the first June weekend. Fanfare was clearly over at the start and eventually returned. The recall flag failed to fall much to the consternation of Njord who had been chancing it so headed back. This left Supremacy and Jerboa starting the day with a tightly fought battle close tacking along the Shrape. As a result of their scrap, both overstood West Ryde Middle so Njord and Fanfare were able to catch up.
Leaving West Ryde middle to starboard the fleet dashed to the Island shore to escape the strong tide. It then got silly. There are two Peels – Peel Wreck and Peel Bank. They are quite close to each other and both red. Jerboa in the lead allowing for strong tide set a perfect lay line for Peel Wreck. Njord over stood the lay line, but eventually “peeled off” to Peel Bank. Jerboa rounded Peel Wreck, efficiently hoisted their spinnaker and carried on back to the line for about … a minute. When Njord rounded Peel Bank, and leisurely raised the front sail, Jerboa after a pause, changed course. Unfortunately Supremacy and Fanfare had elected to follow Gavia, so it was game over.
Results: Njord, Jerboa, Supremacy, Fanfare
For the second Race the Royal Thames decided to set themselves an afternoon spectacle from the race box with a short race to Gales, Snowdon, Gales and the line. Again Njord was over the line with 3 seconds to go but ducked, Jerboa turned back. Njord rounded Gales first with the others close behind, then broke away from the pack on the run to Snowdon, while some fine duelling commenced. On the second beat to Gales Fanfare forced Jerboa past the mark to take second. Adrenalin pounded in the race to the line Fanfare held on to second, Jerboa held on to third beating Supremacy by less that 2 seconds.
Post racing we retired to the balcony of the Royal London to enjoy the view, thank the race officers and of course enjoy a celebratory tipple. For the second champagne weekend Rachel and Michael Issaias kindly hosted a BBQ at their home, and a selection of racers were joined by the race officers and two familiar faces – Gillian and Brian Smith.
Sunday
On Sunday the window was a light south-easterly trying to go to the south west. The course set was Universal Marine, Sunsail, Flying Fish, Gales and home.
The fleet went in shore to read the course, but the wind dropped. Gavia was nearest to the buoy and led the fleet away. Jerboa sailed high and got the first of the incoming wind, Njord sailed lower and at times looked good, but at the mark Jerboa was a couple of boat lengths ahead. On the beat to Sunsail Jerboa nearest to the wind slowly pulled a head and the tidegate at Sunsail opened out the lead.
