Sailing from the heart of Portsmouth

After the unfortunate accident between a large red fishing boat and Rosina, our trusty committee vessel was out of action. Stretch (from Z57) was thankfully able to bring his RIB over. Wiith lots of gaffer tape to form flagstaffs our committee boat was ready and subsequently anchored off Vail Williams with an orange laid mark as the pin end of the line.

Crewed by Ben (mini Stretch) and Martin (also Z57 crew).

Five Victorys took to the water to soak up some of the end of the summer sunshine (Z77, Z76, Z74, Z71 and Z54). An optimistic course was set

KB p

laid mark p

x5…..


The start was at 1835 with a strong tide pushed us away from the line and 10-8kts which was slowly dying. The whole race was a game of snake and ladders with lots of wind shifts (up to 50 degrees!) but Z74 led with everyone else fighting for second place.

Two laps were completed but the race was shortened on the next upwind at KB.

The positions were-

Z74
Z76
Z77
Z71
Z54

Congrats to Z74 on winning the last Thursday race !

Thank you to Stretch, Martin and Ben for your dynamic OOD duties.

The next race is tomorrow for the Poona followed by the last race on a Tuesday, the 10th September, start time is 1815.

See you on the water!

Zoe
Z71

Not sure what the record for a Saturday race at home is but i’m sure seven boats might be the most AND on a bank holiday!

Z48 were gate boat and tried their hardest in the little breeze and rolly waves to start a race (twice) before abandoning and sailing to KB for more breeze, which did eventually come.

This Saturday was also quite unusual, apart from the (record) number of Victorys, record temperatures, we also had possibly one of the youngest Victory crews onboard Z71- 4 year old Archie Penn.

Now i’m sure some of you already know the story… but poor Archie had been treated to a chocolate ice cream before coming aboard, he was ready to race asking how long until we went fast and when would the dragon spinnaker could be hoisted. Two abandoned starts and a lot of bobbing about took their toll on junior Penn and before long he was not feeling too good, this mornings ice cream resurfaced across the poor old Christina.

The start was nearly in sequence but Z71 knew we wouldn’t be racing, Gareth announced over the radio that we were off home due to a case of mal de mar. Poor Archie slept the whole way back to the mooring whilst Gareth cleaned up the boat.

If anyone has any sailing anecdotes from the race then that would be appreciated!

I know that the positions were-

Z76

Z48

Z68

Z73

Z53

Z70

Z71 (DNS)

There is just one race left in the Saturday Trophy- this weekend 31st August, start time at 1400.

See you on the water!

Zoe

Z71

The last race with a 7pm start due to the nights quickly drawing in.

Short nights and a dying breeze meant that the course was short, set from KB, RA p, KB p, RA p and finishing at SS.

Eight boats made it to the start including Z57 who were joint second in series with Z71, but tonight Janet had given the reigns to Stretch and Zoe.. two crews and no helm, anything could happen…!

Z54 also had a different helm, Chris Smith, crewed by Catherine and Vicki- could they keep up Geoffs winning streak from Cowes Week??

The line was busy but everyone started on starboard with Z70 and Z74 taking off early into the wall. Z80 and Z75 led the way to RA. Z57 hit the line at full speed and height, but we misjudged and were 10 seconds late.

A short upwind followed by a busy rounding, Z80 and Z75 were still in the lead with the rest of the pack chasing them down. At KB the fleet split, go into the wall and try something different or stay out for preferential wind?

Some close tacking back up to RA but with Z80 and Z75 still in the lead, closely followed by Z57 and Z74. The reach to the line/Suffolk Sails was hotly contested between Z80 and Z75 but also Z57 and Z74. Variety struggled to get settled and Peregrine overtoook for part of the leg before the crew of Z57 worked out how to fly the spinnaker…

The places at the finish were-

Z75

Z80

Z57

Z74

Z68

Z70

Z78

Z54

Congrats to Z75 on another win

Congrats to Z76 on winning the Harbour Series for the Bishop Painting

Tonight (Thursday 29th August) is race 5 of 6 in the second Thursday series for the Puffin Trophy. Earlier start time of 18:45

See you on the water

Zoe

Z71 (or Z57 tonight)

For a change we decided to start the racing off the wall, course 1 was set with a light breeze down the wall, SW 12kts ish

RA p
SS p
PSC p
SS p
PSC p
SS p
PSC p
Finish at SS

All the Victorys were line shy and spread across the middle of the line
Close tacking up first leg especially just past PSC with lots of crossings
Coming into RA all boats on starboard, procession but close together, except Z78 who went far left on the course nearly to St Helens Fort…

Slow to put up spinnakers, Port pole, 80, 54, 76, 77, 75, 70, 53 and Z78 positions round the windward.

Coming into Suffolk Sails Z53 had an early spinnaker drop and everyone rounded with strong tide pushing them into the harbour

Places to SS- 30 min first lap
75
54
80
76
77
70
53
78

Spinnakers at PSC
54 (tacked into wall, this is what Gareth would have done….)
76
80
75
70
77
53
78

Places at SS, quick spinnaker leg of 12mins, second lap
80
76
54
75
70
77
53
78 (RET)

Places at PSC
80
76
54
75
70
77
53

Spread out left to right across the downwind with the shortened course flag/wind sock displayed.

Finishing at 2001 within 30 seconds-

80
76
54
75

Then

70 2002:31
78 2003:53
53 2006:05
78 RET

Congrats to Z80 with Russel and Munch

What a contrast to last weeks racing in the central Solent…. calm, light winds and sunshine!

See you tomorrow, Thursday 22nd August, for the crews race

Zoe
Z71

​

He was brought up in Dublin and moved to the UK in his early 20s having graduated from the Dental School at Trinity College and set up home in Cosham with his late wife, Sheila. He was a passionate sportsman playing rugby for Portsmouth as well as being selected for Hampshire. Retiring from rugby he sailed with his old team mates, Ian Mead and Ged Grieve in Shearwater for nearly fifty years. Billy brought his ‘work-hard’ ‘play-hard’ approach to sailing, especially Cowes Week. As well as loving the racing at Cowes, Billy fully embraced the social side where the trio were early adopters of the Royal Corinthian for the week, a legacy that lives on with the Class to this day. Many of you will recall the late night games of ‘Bomber Command’. This always culminated in a port engine fire having to be put out by a soda syphon. The port engine was usually an X-Boat sailor! How Billy and his team mates ever sailed the next day remains a mystery to many.

Despite their ’tiredness’ the following day they often found themselves with a gun. Their success was in no small part due to Billy’s trimming skills and strength on the long spinnaker legs which remain a feature at Cowes. Upwind Billy was adept at keeping his cigarette alight in all weathers. He even managed to keep the ember burning on his Marlboro one day after falling into the Camber!

Aside from the Victory Class, Billy sailed in a number of IOR boats over the years including with Adlard Coles whose books many of you will have read. Billy was unfortunate to be the first person to be rescued in the tragic 1979 Fastnet Race while sailing with fellow PSC member, Tony Lloyd. Their boat, Camargue, capsized in heavy seas in the St George’s Channel. Many will have seen the news footage of the crew being winched into the Culdrose helicopter and Billy’s subsequent appearance on ‘This is your Life’!

Billy was a life-long sportsman playing golf and squash. The latter probably longer than was sensible. He also had many interests which included history and archaeology and was a volunteer for the Probation Service.

Billy leaves children Siobhan, Neil and Jo. His funeral is at 11am on Thursday 13th June at St Thomas’s Roman Catholic Church in Emsworth and afterwards at the Slipper Sailing Club.

Russell Mead

Boats on the startline were 57, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, unfortunately Z68 broke their tiller and didn’t start the race. The first leg was a reach to PSC, the majority of the fleet started at the Suffolk Sails end of the line with their spinnakers up.

The fleet split at PSC with Z75 leading the pack towards the Isle of Wight, whilst Z57 took a gaggle of Victorys to the edge of the channel. The wind was gusty with a sea state reminiscent of Cowes week, if only it was a little warmer!

Z75 led around the first windward mark (VW) down the gybe mark (KB) followed swiftly by Z71 and Z76. Kites had to be dropped at PSC for the very tight reach/near beat to PSC.

Z75 continued their lead at Suffolk Sails and up to Vail Williams for a second time, whilst the rest of the pack fought for the other places.

Downwind from VW to PSC there were a few gybe battles to try and gain places, however coming into PSC Z76 pipped Z71 followed by Z57 sneaking in before the finish.

Take home from the race- when in doubt definitely put you jacket on, the waves are wetter than they look …

The results-

Z75, 76, 57, 71, 70, 80, 78, 74. Congrats to Z75 on their win!

Thank you to OOD Ron Fidler.

The next race is tonight, Thursday 9th May and then Saturday 11th May. See you on the water!

Zoe, Z71