Sailing from the heart of Portsmouth

Well the sky wasn’t blue, at least not to start with…and peaceful…ha! There was however a lot of open air, most of it whistling past at 20 - 25 knots from the Southwest. Anyway we had all decided thats what we were gonna do, and so at an hour that your average Victory almost never sees, 6 boats departed the harbour, some even before 9am, and headed up the wall for Gilkicker and beyond on Wednesday morning.

Their destination, confirmed en route, was Solent Mark 4V , Hamble Yacht Services, well west of East Bramble, where Victorys rarely venture outside of Cowes Week. There ‘Cowes United’ and a team from the Royal London Yacht Club’s Cowes Classics Week were waiting, for a days racing as part of the CCW Regatta. It was clear as we rounded Gilkicker in 18-20 knots of SW breeze that it was going to be a damp day. A classic short Solent chop was already building, on 54 Heather at the front was soaked by the time we passed Stokes Bay SC on the close reach to the West. She retreated aft..

All 6 boats made it on time for the start of the sequence at HYS, where we joined rather a lot of Swallows and some Classic Day Boats, all with their own start. By 11:25 Z79, with class legend Kim Taylor at the helm as special guest, was making an enthusiastic start to lead the fleet off the line for the first race, closely followed by the other players for the day, Z54, Z48, Z70, Z73, and Z77. With the breeze still around 18 knots there was a classic ‘Bramble chop’ to sail through, with the race area open to the west all the way to Hurst, and a strong east going tide to fight. Hard to keep the boat moving upwind.

The immediate decision was whether to tack onto port and push north towards Southampton water, or South to get behind the Bramble bank on its SE corner. Z79 went North, with much of the fleet following while 54 held longest to the SE corner before tacking under the bank, At the end of the 1 mile beat Z79 rounded the laid windward and spreader mark first, closely followed by 54 and 48, and in the company of rather a lot of Swallows, to add a bit of Cowes Week style excitement to the day. The hoist and dead run were challenging in the sea state, the fleet spread a little but 79 held the lead. Up the beat again and 54 tried to eat into 79’s lead, but they held the advantage and Kim tacked firmly on top to make sure! Down the run and to the finish, Z79 by a dozen boat lengths. 54 second and 77 holding the third fighting it out with Z48. 79, 54, 77, 48, 70,73.

A short break between races saw Z73 head for home with a sick crew member. Well done to Helen, Gareth and Jim for sailing so far and fighting around the first race in really quite difficult conditions. We hope everyone has recovered today!

Race 2, on the same course. The sun was out, serving to highlight that the wind has increased 2 or 3 knots, and the view to windward was bright green water and white breaking waves! Z48 leading the charge off the line, 54, 77, 79 in the mix. Again the decision was how far to get behind the bank and again 54 went the furthest. Then disaster! Black marks are hard to spot against the Island shore, Z79 and Z77, far to the north on the right of the beat, overstanding the windward mark by some way. Z54 also lured too far, and only Z48 picking the line, while Z70 crosses early. Z54 just in time to roll over 48 as the mark approaches to round first, Z70 gaining rapidly on those over stood. Z54 leads down a frankly rather rock and roll run. Action behind, but I had too much to concentrate on to keep things afloat to get the details! A thrash up the beat in very short waves, covering the fleet, and another mind concentrating run and 54 had the win, with 79 second having passed 48, and 77 and 70 astern.

No time to rest, and anyway everyone was ready to head for home, but you had to passage race there! Race 3 had a simple course.. Mark 47 (Contessa 32 Class), some 1/2 mile upwind, to port, followed by Suffolk Sails, some 7 miles of downwind sailing to the east. Z70 had the start of the day, no week, no.. month! on the line, on the committee boat, shutting out Z79 and bang on the gun! The rest of the class also on the ball, just to show the RLYC what we do. A short sharp beat saw Z54 take the lead round the windward mark a few boat lengths ahead of Z79, with the rest of the fleet close behind. And then comes the long downhill. Broad reach, 20 - 25 knots, quartering sea. An exhilarating leg for everyone, unless you were the one hanging on to the kite sheet (well done Heather and Martyn on 54). Z54 extending from 79 and surfing waves, and the fleet generally extending as we reached down to the mainland shore to dodge the west going tide. Around Gilkicker and on to the run, much to the crews relief! At the line Z54 after 1 hour 16 mins, followed by 79, 77, 70 and 48.

Long day, long report! Thanks to everyone who supported the day, to the RLYC team and to Heather and Martin especially in ‘Zelia’ ! (And a special thanks to the Pet Shop Boys….)

Sapristi was busy two trips over to Haslar Clive joined me for the first trip all crews chatting away. Second trip Frank and Angela joined Sapristi to help run the racing.

After dropping the second load of people off at Haslar Sapristi mad her way out to the race area.

With the wind in the north west but deciding it wasn’t going to stay constant but we decided the first beat will be to PSC after laying a starting mark. Once Sapristi had her anchor down Phame with Max on board joined us on Sapristi.

Course decision was changed a couple of times before the race as we wanted to make sure we could shorten.

Course:- Strt:- Sapristi-laid mark. PSC {P} Linnington (P) through gate X 4 PSC (P) Suffolk Sails to finish.

Ready for the start on time. Ok the visiting helms decided they wanted to get course side before the starting gun yes we do have boats over the line on race days but not so we can’t read the numbers about five boats over no idea who they were so general recall first time that I can remember. Set up start again. Asking all helms to behave and keep the right side of the line. Start gun goes good boys and girls except for one Z54 trying his luck not going to get away with it.

Round one in the lead Z75 with Eilidh McIntyre at the helm crewed by Scam and Jed In 27mins 01seconds 2nd Z78 with Jim Downing at the helm crewed Adam Mayor-Bowler and Zoe. 3rd Z74 Helmed by Ross Partridge crewed by Duncan and Adrian Second round decision had to be made to shorten the course or change of course. Decision made shorten course so as the leader went round Linington for the last time sound signal made to shorten and VHF call to let the sailors know so they can decide which way to go up the last beat. Nearing the finish who is going to cross the line first need to be right on the line very close Eilidh have you thrown it away after being 38 seconds in front of Jim Downing.

After racing there was a prize giving, with a supper of pizza and cake at PSC.

Results as they crossed the line:-

1st. Z75. Eilidh McIntrye 54 mins 39 sec

2nd. Z78. Jim Downing 54mins 42 sec

3rd. Z74. Ross Partridge 56min 10sec

4th. Z80. Dave White 56min 37sec

5th. Z54. Danny Murphy 58mins 22 sec. OCS

6th. Z70. Matt Alred. 59mins 37sec

7th. Z71. Jamie Benthen 1hr 03min 41sec

8th. Z77. Graeme Findlay. 1hr 03min 50sec

9th. Z48 Diggory Ross. 1hr 03min 52sec

10th Z79 Jim Wicks. 1hr 04min 05sec

11th. Z53. Ian Campbell. 1hr 13min 25sec

Thank you Clive. Frank. Angela and Max for helping with OOD Duties.

Six Victorys raced over to Seaview on Friday afternoon in quite bouncy conditions. First to finish on the SVYC line was Zilch (Z75) helmed by John Scammell; second was Zelia (Z54 - Geoff Dixon) and third was Zada (Z79 - Nick Benham). Z48 Isabel helmed by Jim Downing tacked early only to find himself rather close to the swimmers on Seaview beach! Subsequently they were joined by Zircon (67 - James Jopling) and on Saturday morning by Seagull (Z73 - Jim Page). After a very jovial informal supper at SVYC on Friday evening, crews met up on the staging mid morning on Saturday and as planned had a relatively short one round race around the SVYC buoys.

Victory Start 1 Saturday - https://youtu.be/o3z4pSx7na4

Looking completely in control, and making their spinnaker work well on the run to the leeward mark, Zilch (Z75) was the first to cross the finish line ahead of Zada (Z79) second and Zelia (Z54) third. With the fickle SSE’erly breeze coming and going, the third race was essentially a passage race to Under Tyne - a challenging beat as it turned out.

After a tight start close to the inner distance mark. it was soon evident that the front three were going to be the same boats (in the same order) as the previous race.

The final race of the day was another ‘round the cans’ race, making use of Tara as the windward mark, Fitzwilliam as the wing and Britten as the leeward mark; set three times round with the requirement to go through the line to complete each round. After a clean start (just) it was again Zilch (Z75), Zada (Z79) and Zelia (Z54) who lead the fleet as they located the correct buoys in unfamiliar waters.

Victory Start Race 4 Saturday - https://youtu.be/Wcqi1MbOg7o

Although the front group seemed to make light work of the fickle breeze, the bottom few boats struggled to stem the increasingly strengthening tide taking boats, against their wishes, back to Seaview. Indeed Dolphin (Z9) realised that they were on a looser so sensibly decided to retire and use their outboard to help them to the overnight moorings at Under Tyne. As the leaders had already taken an hour and a half as they came to complete the second round, the third round was abandoned and the S Flag (shorten course) was displayed.

After an excellent bbq at BSC on Saturday evening, it had been agreed that crews would meet at BSC the following morning at 10:15 to be ferried out to the Under Tyne moorings with the aim of the passage race back to Portsmouth starting at 11:00 so as to be off Seaview at 11:30 when the Red Arrows were doing a display over Ryde Sands. In the event it took a couple of boats a bit longer to rig but with the breeze holding and despite the very biased line, the seven Victory’s (Zada Z79 having returned the previous late afternoon) and although it was a beat all the way, good progress was made and they were treated to their own display overhead! Also a timely reminder for some of how far out Ryde Sands stretches! Self finishing off Suffolk Sails, the front three boats were Z48 - Isabel; Z54 - Zelia and Z70 – Unity who finished within three minutes of each other after a two hour race.

A fun weekend which it is hoped can be repeated again soon. Its been too long since the Victorys were regular visitors to the Eastern Solent.

The final results for the weekend were:

1. Z75 - Zilch

2. Z54 - Zelia

3. Z79 - Zada

4. Z48 - Isabel

5. Z70 - Unity

6. Z9 - Dolphin

7. Z67 - Zircon

8. Z73 - Seagull

Additional photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxzAm

Words by Mike Samuelson

This is one of the key events to celebrate our 90th year, the weekend will consist of up to 5 races and 2 socials. The formal one of the socials will take place on Saturday 29 June at Bembridge Sailing Club. This event is open to all Class Members, past and present. Plus members from Portsmouth Sailing Club.

See the timetable for the weekend below

The poster contains all the detail, any questions please contact Matt Salt (Class Captain) on 07931252465.

The NoR for the weekend can be found on the EWCC website here

There is a general Q&A sheet on the website here - this list is not exhaustive, so if you have other questions please speak to Matt, who can update the list

With the promise of a special prize of 30 shillings we anticipated a strong showing from the class.

However, the wind was rather brisk, gusting 28 knots and may have deterred a few potential competitors. Four hardy boats showed up in the start area , Z54, Z67, Z75 and Z78. Z78 volunteered to be gate boat and set a course from KB, SS(s), red post (p), SS(s), GL(p), SS finish.

Z78 as gate boat gained a slight advantage on the first leg to Suffolk Sails with a 15-boat length lead.
The rest of the fleet were nip and tuck with Z54 rounding ahead of Z75, closely followed by Z67. The long
spinnaker leg to the red post on Ryde Sands started with the fleet all on port gybe but with the east going tide the fleet gybed onto starboard only to encounter a couple of tankers crossing the Solent on the fleet’s trackline to the red post. As the fleet neared the red post, a guard ship was drifting in the vicinity making it difficult for Z78, the lead boat to find a clear route to the mark. Z78 rounded first, having maintained their lead of 15 boat lengths. Z75 had gained second place having gybed slightly earlier than Z54. Z67 were in close pursuit of Z54’s stern.

Z78 led the fleet northeast towards Horse Sand Fort but Z54 had other ideas and tacked to head north west hoping to get a “lee bow” effect from the east-going tide. Z75 followed suit going westwards across the Solent. Meanwhile, Z67 continued to follow Z78. The shifty conditions allowed boats to take shifts en route to Suffolk

Sails but with such a huge split between the two pairs, who was going to emerge the victor? Z54 had taken the lead in the west going pair. On the eastern side of the course Z78 were extending from Z67 (who appeared to be heading to France) As the boats converged on Suffolk Sails, Z75 and Z54 had managed to reduce Z78’s lead. At the mark Z78 squeezed around in front of Z75 with Z54 close behind. In the
distance Z67 were returning from the Nab Tower. A short run to Gleeds, Z75 trying a new regime during the gybes, which inadvertently involved uncleating the halyard. This allowed Z78 to extend their lead by a couple of boat lengths.

The final beat to Suffolk Sails, the 30 shillings almost in Jimmy’s back pocket… but Z75 tacked first, maybe providing some leverage in the shifty northerly conditions. Z78 continued further towards the main channel before tacking with Z54 following. Z75 experienced a slight lift allowing them to close the distance and cross the line ahead of Z78 with Z54 third. Finishing some time later, Z67. A very hard-fought race under tricky conditions, worthy of a celebration of ninety years of victory sailing. The winning skipper, delighted with his £1.50 winnings treated all competitors to a much needed and well-earned drink!

Maxine

Photo: MC. (p.s yes it is 75 and not 69 really!)

Course selection was frankly tricky, with little wind in places on the race track and swings from south east to south west as gate boat Z54 scratched their collective heads just outside the harbour entrance. Dare we go far afield? Clearly not… even BT and Gleeds, out in a solid east going tide, were fraught with potential disaster and the chance to be very late back to the bar. So then, start at PSC, to KB, Suffolk Sails, PSC, Suffolk Sails, PSC, and finish at Suffolk Sails…plenty of scope to shorten.

The wind was light at the start but with a bit of concentration it was just possible to get a respectable ‘gate’ sailed. Z75 was keen and the first one out of the gate, while 70 and 68 held on to go a little later. Come on, come on…….the third boat cleared the gate at 1 minute 50 seconds and Z54 was pleased to be free to tack out towards KB… and out into the east going that was set to push them away from the buoy. It was the same for everyone of course, and 75 crossed ahead of 54, as the wind held just enough to allow progress against the tide. It seemed to take a while, but 75 slipped round the buoy with 54 following, several lengths behind already. Spinnakers up for a very slow run back towards Suffolk Sails….

A look behind as we approached the downwind mark revealed a sad sight, the wind having deserted 68 and 70 somewhat before rounding KB, and a large gap had opened up between the first pair of boats and the second pair.

At the front 75 had some half a dozen lengths on 54 as we started back up the beat. Where was the wind? 54 took an earlier tack for the wall, where what there was of the breeze seemed to be clinging to the granite. 75 followed, but as the lay line for PSC approached 54 had edged ahead while closing the gap to windward. What would 75 do, tack on the lee bow of course, could we roll him, could he lay the mark? No and yes respectively, and 75 rounded PSC with a couple of boat lengths clear from 54. It was getting closer, although behind us we could see that Z70 was having no luck with the fickle breeze and 68 was opening the gap..

Down the run to Suffolk Sails again. At the mark 54 was on 75’s transom, but a better rounding saw her pull away again. Once again 54 tacked first for the wall. The wind had other ideas, as we headed south west it started to swing south, then south east. 75 and 54 both lifted. Now we were both overlaying PSC. Sails were eased, could 54 to leeward power out and break the overlap before the buoy. No again! Now neck and neck at the buoy 75 had control to get the tack in first and round on the inside. Feet only between us….

Now the run to the finish at Suffolk sails.. but its no longer a run of course… the wind is almost from the East. 75 takes a decision not to hoist, 54 hoists and foots off under 75 with Heather hanging on grimly to a tightly sheeted spinnaker! Picking up pace… 75 looking worried…half way to the line ..is he going to hoist?… he is going to hoist.. there it goes. With 75 briefly distracted 54 sheets harder and climbs across 75’s transom. Clear to windward, line bias in 54’s favour now, but can she gain the couple of boat lengths needed. 75 footing off for speed.. its close, its very close, its half a boat length…

To be honest, with no one on the line, both boats likely felt they had the win, but 75 certainly had the benefit of the doubt, to take the race and the Helmsmans Cup. Congratulations on a great race and series to Z75, and a great race and series for the Victory Class, half a boat length and 49 years of boat age separating the first two boats shows the best of the one design racing that the class offers.

A very honourable mention for Z70, MC and Matt cruelly abandoned by the wind gods on this occasion having had some great results in the first 3 races of the series….. next time….!