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One Day Regatta for the Lucent Trophy 2006
The view from ‘Cerefe’
We were looking forward to today as our first
time out since the Spring Series – which had been a bit of a wash out for
us. 1 race in 40 knots plus, 1 race not finished – no wind and 1 race not
started – forgot to tell the boatyard to launch the boat! (skipper still not
forgiven by the team)
During their success in the Royal Southern May
Regatta Saturday Regatta, the Shadowfax team attempted to drink their own
body weight the night before which may have hampered their decision making a
little on the Sunday morning.
The forecast had all the clues to the sort of
day we could expect – variable 3 or less
On the water the Solent was fairly crowded –
everything from Commodore’s Cup trials to a Contessa 32 series – so lots of
juggling/negotiating between committee boats but well sorted in the end.
Eight starters gathered – a bit depleted as
some teams had gone to the team racing in Dublin and 2 – 3 boats aren’t yet
race ready. (It looks as though we can expect 12 – 14 boats out for regular
racing). The good news was some new faces – Rapscallion, Odalisque, Surveyor
of Hamble and Wavelength. – I hope they become regulars.
The breeze eventually kicked in (all 6 knots
of it) from the South West. On a short course Auditrac took an early lead
with Cerefe and Shadowfax pursuing. On the downwind leg Cerefe managed to
pass Auditrac and kept the lead to the finish. Shadowfax looked as tho’ they
might get second but ran out of wind on the last 100 metres to the leeward
mark.
The second race waited while the wind went
round to the east and “sort of settled”.
This time Shadowfax took an early lead with
Cerefe and Auditrac following round the windward mark. Poor downwind leg
tactics on Cerefe left them in third place at the leeward mark with Auditrac
leading from Shadowfax. Frustration built as the race was shortened at the
first gate.
The start of the third race had to wait from
the wind to shift round (but not settle) to the south west.
The difficulties faced by the race committee
became very clear on the first beat – Auditrac got a flier at the port end
while Cerefe and Shadowfax were stuck with little wind and no speed at the
committee boat. On the beat the wind veered 30 – 40 degrees which gave
Cerefe a good lift to the mark – Auditrac bearing away from their
increasingly above lay line position the whole time and maintaining speed to
the mark. The shortened course put Auditrac first with Cerefe second.
Auditrac got first overall on the day.
Full marks to the Race Committee who kept us
going in very frustrating, difficult conditions and managed to get 3
results. But even they thought the conditions too fickle for a fourth race –
and cancelled.
Rapscallion’s comments: This was our
first race in our Sigma 33 and we were the strongest boat in the fleet as
was confidently predicted. Nevertheless we enjoyed the day and learnt an
enormous amount. We will return…
Surveyor of Hamble’s comments: This was
our first of the Sigma One Day Regatta which followed our Inter Bank Race
the day before. It was suggested to us to follow the Committee boat out of
Cowes which we did into the Hill Head Area. We learnt a lot from the day and
the whole crew is looking forward to the next race in the Series on the 17th
June.
Odalisque’s Comments: We all enjoyed
the racing and it was very much appreciated that the Race Committee sticking
with organising our racing in difficult and testing conditions.
Like what you've heard ?
Do you wish to improve your crew’s ability to
work together?
Why not come and join us at our One Day
Regattas which are held during the season on the following dates?
17th June, 15th July, 3rd September,
30th September.
They follow the format of 4 short races
normally held in the
Central Solent and start at 10.30am and no
race starts after 17.30pm.
For more details and to obtain the Notice of
Race and Entry Form
Contact
jo.chugg@sigma33.com or telephone 020 8942 1043.
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