Posts by Geoff Dixon

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….)

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….!

If we sometimes feel challenged by our own older wooden Victory boats, when you get to a vessel that is 186ft long, 2162 tons, that was launched in 1765 you get a very different sense of perspective!

Thanks are due for all the work from Zoe, MC and Max, outgoing Racing Secretary Sid, and Master of Ceremonies John Scammell to highlight the highs of 2023. The ‘Beazley Trophy’ for the overall Cowes Week win, the ‘Top Helms’, and no less than 14 other trophies were presented to Z74 Peregrine who had a spectacular 2023 season. Jim Downing received The ‘Captains Decanter’ for services to the class, and with Zoe Whittaker also collected 7 other trophies from another great performance on the water in Z78 Ziva, while Max and Scam won the one that every Saturday sailor wants, the ‘Presidents Shield’. The party continued after the formalities were over..

More Photos from the night can be found here…LINK

Z15 Dunlin, with Dawson Penn at the helm and a certain young Victory and Contessa 32 sailor as crew. Circa 1992

With race officer Hugh Pringle set up at PSC racing mark, Course 2 was called, with 2 beats to BT followed by two shorter beats to PSC, all with Suffolk Sails as the downwind mark. The breeze was an encouraging SW gusting to 20 knots, enough to get your teeth into.

The fleet were keen on the line, stacked up at the committee boat end with 30 seconds to go. At the last moment a dive down the short line saw them all off the outer end with no one OCS, out towards the west going tide, undoubtedly the way to go. Z54 the leeward boat just squeezing past the buoy with 80, 74 and 68 to weather and behind. As 54 squeezed up from below one by one the others tacked off for clear air, leaving 54 to take advantage of the best of the tide further out. At BT 54 had the lead with 74 and 80 rounding not far behind.

Down the run to Suffolk Sails 54 extended with Heather working the kite hard. 74 and 80 neck and neck behind. Repeat up the beat to BT again, 54 tacking too early for the buoy and allowing 74 to close a little, but 54 first round again and 74 and 80 on top of each other behind.

54 leading round SS and beat to PSC, the lead still comfortable, but you can’t make a mistake in the Victory Class and here comes the first one. 54 gybes to come down the run on port, 80 follows, but 74 holds out on starboard gybe and gets more breeze, storming up on 54, while 80 also benefits from breeze filling from astern after a lull. 54 under pressure at Suffolk Sails, but just holding the overlap inside 74 with 80 behind.

It’s often important to keep hold of the big picture when you find yourself in close quarters. Mistake no.2, 54 allows 74 and 80 to tack first and they foot off under and out into the breeze. An early tack onto Port sees them both cross 54 as PSC approaches, but they were a little early with the tacks this time, 54 holds on and takes a little benefit from a lift into the wall, lifting over 80. Not quite over 74 however, who cross on starboard 1/2 boat length ahead, to round PSC to start downwind to the line first, with 54 second and 80 third. 74 in more breeze off the wall and 54 defending against 80 sees Peregrine take the Dunlin Trophy at the line, to add to a few others waiting for collection at the prizegiving… 54, 80, 68, 73 follow with 53 retiring.

Well done to 74, but all the Cowes bound boats are no doubt happy with their performance! Thanks to Mr Pringle and team for a great race.

Now there apparently needs to be a song in here, so, with Cowes Week approaching, all together now…

“What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor, What Shall We Do……..

Z74 ‘ in the chair’ for the evening set a course from a start line at PSC…… SS - BT - Liningtons - BT - SS. At the start the fleet were keen, too keen in some cases, Z54 and 69 early and ducking back down the line, and 67, oh so close to not being OCS, but the ’X’ went up and back they went after an almost! perfect start.

Going left to the wall for too long on the first beat did not pay. Out to the right got you to the right side of the curve as the wind shifted. Z78, Z80, Z54 first around SS with barely a 1/4 of a length between them. A gaggle of boats behind. Z78 low off the mark, Z80 up the middle, Z54 high and up over Z80. Down the long run to BT the wind swung just a little to the east, allowing the windward boats to hold a good line to the buoy and make the most of the gusts. At the mark its Z54, Z80, Z78, with 77 and 69 right behind. Still nothing in it.

The east going was running. Off the buoy on Port was the way to go, racing down the tide, but 77 and 69 tacked left at the buoy for clear air back towards the wall. A bit of a header on port half way down the beat and 54 and 80 tacked left for a distance and then back on to port down the middle. The middle seemed a good place to be. Z77 and 67 hard out to the right, and 69 and 77 to the left were losing ground. 54 extending on 80, and 77, giving up early on the left hand side, closed on 80 to cause some distraction. By Liningtons 54 had half a dozen boat lengths clear, with 80 and 77 behind, and the rest of the fleet close. The gusty breeze had a surprise for 69 just after the mark, pushing her into an unexpected broach, quickly recovered.

Places basically unchanged at BT. One beat to SS to go. Most of the fleet off on Port, down the tide again, trying to judge where the corner was for a tack to SS. Z54 covering, Z80 holding second. Z54 tacks for the buoy, still some 3/4 mile away, looking good. Z69 has gone early however. Up the middle. Z54 watching closely. Are the lifts going to get him to the line first. Looking ok for 54, but 80 is a little further to windward and at risk. Z54 across the line first, the oldest boat of the night still has some legs, but Z69 is second, a great recovery, leaving Z80 with the third gun, a few seconds and 66 years behind!

Honourable mention for Z9, great to see them making progress on a breezy night (but despite the number the boat is a relative youngster), and many thanks to hardworking Mike and our third generation Victory sailor Vicky Metcalf on 54 for the effort ( I won’t mention your age!)

Photo: ©Chris Smith

Starting signals commenced and the fleet gathered at the committee boat end of the line. Z68 came in on port and tacked under Z74 and Z80 with 30 seconds to go, gathering some speed we were more than grateful when a second sound signal followed the start as both Z74 & Z80 were clearly over the line. They returned to restart and we then had clear air for the long beat to Gleeds. Concentrating on both boat speed and pointing Z68 gradually gained on those who were making a long starboard tack to the left-hand side of the track. Two boats Z75 & Z80 had gone the other way with a long port tack. On coming together at the windward mark, it was Z75 who had gained most and rounded first, followed by Z68 and then closely by Z80 (who had started last), then Z74, Z78, Z54 and Z70. Then a long run back to PSC with little if any place changes, short beat to KB and a run to the finish line. Another good win for Z75 followed by Z80, Z68 just holding off Z74, then Z78, Z70 and Z54, Z70 having sneaked past Z54 as they made a rather slow rounding of PSC. Most of us held our spinnakers along the wall and into the harbour against the ebbing tide, keen to get in out of the cold and looking forward to the warmth, beer and usual debrief in the sailing club. Many thanks to Geoff and Liz for an enjoyable race.

John

Thursday’s race took place in a very brisk North Easterly, which initially caused the first starting sequence to be aborted as the breeze shifted east with a couple of minutes to go. With the course amended to Suffolk Sails – PSC (x 4) to allow for the delay and the early sunset at 20:07, the three intrepid (or foolhardy) competitors set off up the beat to SS. It was conditions to focus the mind, especially if you were at the front catching the waves. To their surprise, Z54 seemed to pick the right lines and squeeze up on a lift to perfectly lay SS ahead of Z74 and Z69, whose earlier track inshore had not paid. Around SS some rare caution was applied on 54, with the jib goosewinged and no kite in the strong gusts on the very shy dead downwind leg to PSC. Behind, Z74 fought to get a kite up and under control, and 69 also hoisted, all be it some lengths further back. Second surprise of the night, as caution paid, and 54 was able to exercise more control to pick the line dead downwind to best advantage and with control, with enough breeze to overcome the extra sail area advantage on the boats astern. At PSC 54 still had the lead, and there was a repeat of the beat to SS, with 54 holding her position, 74 following and 69 closing the gap. At SS the breeze briefly eased, Z54 first round again ahead of 74 and 69, and this time all boats hoisted kites. The breeze returned, 54 dropped early again to exercise some control into PSC, and rounded just ahead of the chasing boats, but the gap had closed! 74 fell off into 54’s dirty breeze, and freed to start powering through her lee, while 69 held up on the windward quarter trying to gain control. The VHF delivered the shortened course call, final leg, and 74 seized a chance, tacking first for the line. 54 and 69 fatally delayed, and as the wind headed on the starboard tack to PSC Z74 powered out from under the other boats, sailing round the inside of ‘the curve’ as the wind headed, and made it to the line 7 seconds ahead of 54, with 69 a further few seconds back.

Congratulations again to Tom and the Peregrine team, a short but hard race. Thanks to Munch and Jim and Liz, a tricky OOD duty, and thanks to Z54’s crew, Mike and Vicky, who found themselves having to work rather harder then expected! As a reward, the return to the harbour came with lots of cold rain, to wash away the salt and send everyone ashore feeling fresh and happy! ☹.