Seven boats started the seventh race of the season (Amazon, Knot Rushin’, Little Angel, Moonshine, Muffin, Ubique and Wild Thing). With the class captain away, Chris and Richard, after some discussion, chose course 55 which took us round 30p, 31s and then through the forts several times mainly using buoys Hoo1 and SYA4. With a flood tide and relatively light winds from North West the decision as to where to start was critical.
You have to bear in mind the author normally has all the boats in front of him so easy to report in detail! – not so on this occasion so reporting this race as best possible.
With some twenty seconds to go KR hoisted the spinnaker and took a route just inside the moorings on the south shore and led the fleet closely followed by Moonshine and Ubique who had WT, LA and Amazon close by. Muffin chose to go just outside the moorings and with clear air (or was it the spinnaker handling!) after a short while took the lead. The first mark was 30p and then back up river to 31s. Muffin in the lead followed by KR, Moonshine, Ubique, WT, LA and Amazon.
At 28p Muffin kept to the right-hand side of the course on their way to 24p. Meanwhile KR was frantically trying to hold off Moonshine and Ubique gybing on to port just crossing in front of Moonshine to keep clear air. We found ourselves taking the left-hand side of the course but anything to maintain second place! Following Muffin who now had a decent lead round 24p heading off to Hoo1s. KR pulled away from Moonshine and Ubique who was now in third place. At some stage both Amazon and LA retired with LA having rudder problems.
The positions remained the same for the next several buoys Hoo1s, SYA4p, 23s, 22s, SYA4s, Hoo1p, 25s and 30p. The tide had now changed and Muffin with quite a lead crept up the south shore of Gillingham Reach followed by KR, Ubique, Moonshine and Wild Thing. The wind was light and fluctuating and the ebb tide was fast gaining momentum. After Mears the fleet headed for the south shore where we found ourselves tacking in winds shifting from West to North and anything in between so Heartbreak Reach at its best. Muffin maintained her lead but Ubique was gaining on KR and after several tacks took second place 😢 leaving KR to protect third place from Moonshine who was gaining fast but too far back to claim a podium finish. Final placings Muffin, Ubique, Knot Rushin’ Moonshine and Wild Thing with Amazon and Little Angel retiring.
Another lovely day on the water.
Philip Clarabut