7th June – Saturday – MYC and not a Dragon to be seen!
With strong winds forecast, all were kept guessing prior to the race start; how do we rig, any room for a sixth (Screwloose), how many safety boats? Even the Wayfarers kept everyone guessing, will they, won’t they – turn up? One safety boat, two safety boats, what to do? Poor Phillip acting as Race Officer was suffering with a little angst.
Then the dulcet tones of Admiral Mark were heard; it was clear that though Wayfarers were late to the party, they were out to battle the elements. So, two safety boats then. Well, that was half the Sonata fleet tied up on safety and so rather thinning out the racing numbers.
The Sonata fleet dwindled down to 3. But tactics were aplenty.
Cpt Kirk had grabbed all the available new blood and was going to be 5 up. Skipper played ‘safe, sound and steady’ opting for 4 up. Meanwhile Watersong, short of their star player and resident of ‘the pointed end’, ended the day just 3 up; but they had a plan! Keep everything crossed, bring a prayer mat and hope that Major Grumble can stop focussing on Honey, and his nice little earner, and concentrate on the kite in the heavy-duty puff without grumbling too much.
The set course was rather like the Daytona strip; straight out straight back. To be more precise, pop the Spinney up at the start, trundle down to Gillingham reach, hang a left at Folly, pop up to 23 with a sharp right down to 15, quick ‘You-ee’, drop the Spinney and beat back home round a couple of cans. Simples.
5 seconds to the start gun and all 3 were hogging the line. BANG!!! And they were off……
Watersong ‘Lite’ just got the edge on Screwloose ‘Heavy’ with Skipper already sniffing a victory right behind, just where she wanted them. Tide going out and stonking along under their keels, wind staying strong, firm but fair, they all but flew out of Heartbreak. The wind eased a tad passing 32 and on to 29 then it built.
Captain Kirks’ wizard wheeze of taking on half the England first 15 now seemed to give him a weight handicap. Focussing on Skipper snapping at his heels, he had to concentrate on watching his back allowing Watersong to edge away.
But not all was right on the good ship Watersong; Major Grumble was ‘piggin ‘ot’ and sharing his displeasure with Minor Grumble and Botters who was doing his very best impression, by way of generously making up the numbers of two crew members ‘aboard, post his lunchtime Family Cornish pasty.
A gybe at Folly took his mind off his hot flush and with the wind now blowing directly over his Male Pattern Baldness, Major Grumble could normalise temperatures, take his mind off the kite and think of a plan to monetise those two last pots of honey he hadn’t sold yet as soon as he got back in the Bar.
A pop up to 23 and Watersong was 40mtrs ahead of the baying pack. Screwloose rounded 23 first with Skipper just 1 boat length behind. A clean gybe by Screwloose gained her another boat length over Skipper who had suffered a bad directional twist in the air that left their spinney empty and flapping for just 5 seconds.
With Screwloose now some 4 boat lengths ahead, Skipper settled as they approached the power station jetty; but where was Robert? Normally found in Skippers cockpit he couldn’t be seen by this reporter. Then as if assisted by some Deity the wind favoured Skipper. Skipper accelerated and regally caught up with Screwloose. In the length of just the jetty, she had made up 4 boat lengths. As they sped away from the jetty Skipper started to overtake Screwloose. It then became blatantly clear! Robert was down in the cabin with his own prayer mat.
Onward to 15 and Screwit doggedly fought off Skippit. However, by the time they both reached 15 Skippy was ahead of Screwfix by a generous boat length.
Both rounded and charged for home. Well certainly Skip-her did, from this reporter’s vantage point Screwup was doing just that and appeared to be heading for Dagenham. For some reason Cpt Kirk had a pointing issue; though we now believe he had lost his concentration and was more focused on that packet of 6 pies awaiting him back on land and how he could equally divvi up 3 for him and three for half the England first 15 while Steve and Chris miss out when they pop to the bar to get the drinks in.
Clearly Capt Kirk aka Kipling, came to his senses once he had evidently organised his imminent eating arrangements and tacked back out to the river. Wind shifts, tide, skill (leave that for you to decide) favoured Screwtop. With Skillet remaining on a starboard tack, Screwup caught up. They were neck and neck heading for 20 on the other side of the river. Regretfully for Skipper the aroma of pastry and boiled soft fruit pushed Capt Kipling up a gear and past the pain barrier rounding 20 first.
With a fair bit of huffing and puffing, the positions remained the same all the way back to the finishing line.
So the wind never commanded, only ever challenged; a good day’s sailing.
Final positions 1. Watersong – 2. Screwloose – 3. Skipper – 4. Kellaway.
Or is that right ?
Richard Furness