Race 3 (or 4… or 5?) – A Tactical Tale of Two Breezes
This week’s race served up a classic Medway cocktail: warm sunshine, a gentle to moderate south-westerly breeze, and just enough tactical nuance to keep things spicy. With a spinnaker start on the cards, the fleet launched into action with colourful kites and cautious optimism.
Bluetack, ever the eager beaver, nailed the start with a flyer — but alas, enthusiasm doesn’t always equal elevation. They found themselves on the wrong side of the track, while Screwloose, with a navigator’s nose for breeze, picked the right lane and sailed off into a lead they would never relinquish.
Red Dwarf and Bluetack gave chase, but Screwloose was in their own postcode by the time the fleet settled into the rhythm of the race. Kites flew bravely across the board — except on Cry Havoc, where discretion (or indecision?) proved the better part of valour. Still, no broaches, no drama, and a collective sigh of relief from the top four: Screwloose, Red Dwarf, Bluetack, and Skipper, heading into Gillingham reach.
The run down to mark 15 was a line-astern affair, with little room for heroics. Despite some spirited tacking and tactical zig-zagging on the way back upriver, the positions held firm. Final results:
- Screwloose – Tactical masterclass
- Red Dwarf – Solid and steady
- Bluetack – Fast, but not quite right
- Skipper – Calm and collected
- Cry Havoc – Valiant (and two-up, no less!)
As for whether the race counts when Bluetack aren’t winning… well, that’s a philosophical debate for another day. Bitter? Not at all. Just observant.
Foredug out.