RSYC Double to Weymouth

The turnouts for the double handed racing keeps improving race on race. The start line for leg 1 was laid at Royal Thames in the Solent just west of Calshot Spit with 49 of the 57 yachts entered milling around making plans for the down wind start. Five classes were run, 2 IRC, 2 Club handicap and the multihulls. The wind at the start was slightly better than forecast with a North-easterly 8 knots filling the spinnakers as the boats crossed the line. All starts were clear with the competitors being slightly cautious with some nine hours of racing ahead and no one wanting to be caught OCS. The tide was against the fleet that split as some stuck close to the Island and the rest opted for the sheltered route going west along the mainland shore. Some tucked in a bit too close but managed to get off the mud by doing a U turn. One boat, which shall remain nameless, kept crews amused as the skipper shouted trimming instructions to his sweating crew from the top of the mast as they sailed down the Solent while he freed a jammed spinnaker halyard.

Report by Tim Wilson on Cold Fusion . On the way to Weymouth, the wind was between North/North West F2 and F3, but up to 12 kts briefly, except near Hurst when it fell to zero for 20 mins or so. At this stage, Force X was in front, then us and Marmalade.....not much in it. George went half way towards the Needles before heading east. Myself and David went straight across. Spinnakers to Hurst, Jibs after that. Across Poole Bay, we ate one pork pie between us on Cold Fusion, Mark Griffiths on Force X is reputed to have eaten 20 sausage rolls all by himself. Not too lumpy around the headlands (Durlston Head, etc), and straight to Weymouth.

About five miles from the finish monohull ‘Tosara Blue’ came across a rib manned by a lone frantic individual, trying to attract attention. They reduced sail and made their way to the rib, to find that it was unable to make way and was without communications and had lost its three divers. They radioed the coast guard and recovered the person from the rib. The coast guard helicopter arrived and located the divers. ‘Tosara Blue’ took the rib in tow and then recovered the missing divers who were unaware of the fuss, and arrived at the finish line with six crew, instead of the regulation two. Redress was given in the results.

Force X finished first at 18:14, finishing a full 44 minutes ahead of second place Tim Wilson and Richard Haynes on ‘Cold Fusion’ the Dragonfly 920. David Hyland and Neil Owen brought ‘Marmalade’ the Dragonfly 800 home to take third place.George beating us by around 9 mins on corrected.

The three Dragonflies rafted up together (not folded), and off we went to the same pub and to the same curry house as last time. When we got back to the boats at 23:30 there were 7 monos rafted outside us. Force X being the inside boat, taking all the strain, and the committee boat on the outside.

The Royal Dorset Yacht Club kindly played host to the competitors with 49 boats rafted up in 4 trots outside the club, all flying the McGuigan Wines racing flags. Our sponsor McGuigan wines was represented by Patrick Nelson of Waverley TSB who presented the prizes.

Everyone was able to enjoy a lazy start to the Sunday morning with the first return start scheduled at 1510.

There was more wind on the way back. Course, via North Head buoy. South West 18-20 kts, occ up to 26. Force X and Marmalade started well. We crossed the line last. Marmalade with what appeared to be two reefs in main, Force X full main, and us with one reef. We soon took our reef out as we were being left behind, and after ten minutes of debate, put up the small spinnaker. (at this stage, only a few monos were using theirs). Our speed shot up to 18 kts and we caught David (who was taking photos). We also caught George, who then had problems with his bowsprit....as the fitting that attaches the pole to the boat broke. We caught the monos and were first boat to St Albans Head. We stayed close in given the tide was against. Around the headlands, the seas were fairly steep. George went a little more offshore, and David followed us. We gybed all the way to North Head buoy, (passing the committee boat who were waiting) dropped the spinnaker to head up to Hurst (as it happened we did not need to). Spinnaker up again and down the Solent with tide now behind us. First to finish at 21:04. Force X finished around 15 minutes later, and Marmalade around 15 minutes after that (beating George into second place).

Multihull class – leg 2 – All change from leg 1 with line honours and the class win going to the first boat home ‘Cold Fusion’, Tim Wilson’s Dragonfly 920 crewed by Richard Haynes. Second place went to David Hyland and Neil Owen on ‘Marmalade’ the Dragonfly 800 with George Burn and Mark Griffiths bringing ‘Force X’ home in third place.