Dragon Flagon Race 2
5 boats ventured out this week (6 if you include Whistle who were on duty) Molly, OCD, Gandalf, Suti and Tempest who were greeted with a brisk SW, perfect Dragon weather. The Class Captain set a course out to Long Reach (would have been further but for beating against the tide) with a little up and down Gillingham Reach to get the fleet going.
The fleet was reasonably close going up to Autumn, the first leeward mark in Long Reach, with OCD edging the lead. On rounding the windward mark (buoy 22 ) there was a split into two groups. OCD, Gandalf and Suti leading with Tempest and Molly battling it out behind.
Going around MYC4, OCD opted for the North Shore with Suti staying in the middle just North of the channel and Gandalf crossing the tide to the South Shore. When Suti tacked towards the windward mark again buoy 22 she managed to get ahead of Gandalf but this was short lived as she went too close to the shore and ran aground allowing Gandalf to cruise past. It probably took 30 seconds to re- float and looking around for OCD saw she had also ran aground. This time coming across from the North shore near the Jetty heading towards the windward mark. Unlike Suti they couldn’t get off even when Kevin decided to go for a dip in the Med.
Eventually a tow was needed and a early bath was taken (the joys to Medway mud). That left Gandalf and Suti to battle it out and with two marks to go Suti didn’t need to tack making MYC1 first but Gandalf managed to benefit from a port and starboard giving them the lead to the last Buoy 24 with the finish in sight. Unlike Gandalf who tacked soon after the rounding , Suti kept going for another 20m giving her the advantage to the SeaGas finishing line. What a close race!!
Molly and Tempest battled it out to the end with Tempest coming out on top. Great shame about OCD.
Finishing order 1st Suti 2nd Gandalf 3rd Tempest and 4th Molly OCD RTD (Whistle currently scoring 1 point on average points redress for carrying out her duty)