Posts by Scam

Unfortunately, the Race organisers didn’t pay the weather gods, resulting in a couple of lost races. The first week was a baptism of fire with the race organisers being prudent in cancelling the keelboats the evening before. Only Divisions 2 completed both races on the first weekend with the yachts in Division 1 not starting the second race. In Division 2 Pink Lime took both wins (in YTC) owned by (the Class known) Nick Houlding in his David Thomas Quartet. The single race in Division 1 was won by One More Knot (Phil Duff, PSC Rear Commodore Sailing), but 10 boats were “enjoying” the sailing!

The next weekend was the Passage Race to Cowes, starting on the Gilkicker line, plus running in conjunction with the PSC Rally to the Folly. With the wind very light, the committee plotted a slalom style course to Cowes with the aid of the tide. In fact, at the start Zilch and several yachts were struggling back to the start line. Zilch even hoisted their spinnaker. The ten yachts progressed slowly to the finish at Norris with Djinn (J Langieshe, Sigma 8) taking line honours. The YTC handicap had Zilch beating Pink Lime by 20 secs on corrected over after drifting for almost 2 hours. The racers relaxed with a drink and bite at the Island Sailing Club. Zilch moored at Cowes Corinthian Sailing Club before a water taxi to join the convivial rally at the Folly. Thank you, Heather and Paul for providing a berth for the night on the great yacht Stargazer.

On Oct 3rd, it was a waiting game. Was the wind going to materialise? After getting to the starting area at Gleeds which Zilch moored to. The race officers abandoned racing as no breeze had been seen or expected in the Solent. Zilch enjoyed both the tea and teacakes provided by Sweet Pea while waiting on the decision. The competitors returned to the bar, all pleased with the result.

The next Saturday, Zilch had a break, with the Commodore relaxing on a “party” cruise ship in the North Sea. One race was completed by Divisions I and 2, with Challenger (Adam Ballard, Beneteau First 40.7) winning Div 1 with line honours, and Pink Lime winning Div 2 again. Challenger took the overall win by 80 secs, the fleet up to 11 yachts sailing.

Two weekends left to go… Pink Lime out in front in the overall with 8 pts, followed by a tie in second with 21 points of Pinball Wizard, One More Knot, Zilch and Challenger on 22pts.

Archie, from the University of Portsmouth Sailing Club, was Race Officer for 17th Oct. 12 yachts turned out for the two races. One round the cans and one short windward/leeward of 6 laps – a full workout for the crew. The usual suspects won both of their divisions races, with Challenger (Div 1) and Pink Lime (Div 2). Overall, Zilch took both race wins on YTC, with Pink Lime second in the first and Challenger second in the second.

On to the last day, with Storms Austen and Boelo, there was a chance of a small weather window to complete a race or two. The fleet depleted only 7 yachts appearing. A couple of yachts had reefed with the expected forecast… was this wise? The start was weighted in favour of the committee boat end. Zilch managed the start well, leading the yachts through at the committee end, before tacking out of the resultant wind shadow of speeding Challenger. Both Challenger, Easy Tiger and Zilch moved quickly upwind with the unexpected lighter conditions leaving Pinball Wizard and Pink Lime to eventually shack out their reefs.

Challenger with the Hammer down need to put time into Zilch, with Pink Lime need to catch up and overtake to take honours. With kites hoisted the three continues to press with the wind picking up. Challenger again took line honours, followed in by Easy Tiger, but what is this Zilch takes third across the line just in front of Pink Lime! An impressive win by the Victory with a 7 minute lead on corrected!!! Again, both Challenger and Pink Lime won their divisions.

PSC runs two handicaps over the series. One the YTC provided by the RYA through RORC, and a second progressive handicap from PSC. Phil Duff spends a lot of time on this and with all handicap systems there are winners and losers. Yes, Zilch club’s handicap looks unfavourable but it is a challenge at personal level to beat your own handicap. Also, it allows other competitors to progress to the winner’s rostrum. For example, this series had Pinball Wizard as Club Class Overall winner, showing a significant improvement on his previous year’s performance, well done Lloyd and team.

Well done to Challenger in Div 1, Pink Lime in Div 2!!!

And thank you to all organisers, competitors and my crew (Max, PSC Commodore).

See you next year!!! And hope more Victory join this exciting race series in the future!!!

Scam

The class was involved in two races this Saturday(18th) with the first counting towards the Helmsman Cup! The committee had put Victories in with Division 2 start, the first at 1020. The course provided by the committee was (after deciphering several transmissions) line- 5J(port)-5P(port)-line, twice round. The committee boat stationed 200m south west of 5P was going to make the leg to the line interesting with a required quick loop to the finish.

Luckily two Victories turned up to definitely make a valid Class race! With a collection of boats on Div 2… Folkboat, First 21.2, Half tonner, First 33.7, with 7 boats in Div 1.

So race one, Zilch and Zelia starting towards the pin, with the larger boats coming in late at the committee boat.

Zilch was overtaken by Sweet Pea (first 33.7) on the starboard lay line to the first mark. Due to dealing with the larger yachts, Zella managed to squeeze past Zilch at the mark to become the lead victory. A small issue with Zella’s kite launch allowed Zilch to overtake to windward. At 5P (www.victoryclass.org.uk/portsmouth100), Sweet Pea set for a port rounding, giving a worry of confusion to the following yachts. Zilch approached the mark with Challenger(First 40.7) a boat length behind. Which way were the yachts to round… luckily both to port!!!

Now for the interesting manoeuvre to tack quickly for the line!!! Trying to keep wind without losing out to a windshadow for the huge div one yacht! Challenger tacks allowing Zilch to follow without losing the wind and a sharp intake of breath as his bow crossed the stern of Zilch.

With Sweet Pea rounding a different way it was a race for not just Class but division win for the Victories. Zelia rounded to port with the next group of Tempests in Div 1. Zilch went through the line and cleared their wind from Challenger. Zelia continued north along the channel… maybe forgot about the line in the course (perhaps one of those Victory blunders, or was it just the course transmission?!)

The race continued with the positions not changing after Zelia returned to the line on round one. 1st Zilch and 2nd Zelia… PSC handicap results to follow….

Now race 2…..

The wind had veered slightly making the line a little squarer but the tide still favouring the pin end of the line. Course set line (no position change)-5G(port, Baker Trayte)-5P(stbd)-line, again two laps. At least the committee saw the error of the course in the first race with the loop!!!!

Again both Victories competed for the pin, Zilch cleared the pin with Zelia and Mistress (Folkboat) following. Mistress putting pressure on trying to get through both Victories to windward. Out to the tide, Zilch managed to work to Mistress’s line to allow her to tack to cover Zelia, who had tacked to clear her wind. Zilch, piped Sweet Pea to Baker Trayte and hoisted first, Zelia following as the third boat…

No Div one to contend with yet. Sweet Pea … rounds 5P successfully to starboard!!! Followed by both Zilch and Zelia. Back through the line and up again to 5G.

Zilch slightly over standing with the westerly tide with Zelia, but with Challenger approaching between to be an hindrance at the mark. Zilch already knew that Challenger was set up to undertake bear away set, hopefully they could gybe set inside…

At the mark Challenger went wide in and narrow out to stop the gybe set of Zilch!!!

Zelia gained a small distance, as Zilch gybed finely behind Challenger. Sweet Pea already half way down the run….

Div two across the line Sweet Pea , Zilch and Zelia.

Thank you to Geoff and Paul for competing!!!

Next week, same again with roast beef sandwiches in the club…. Come on folks the rest of you are missing out!!!

Scam

The first race of the new season. Light winds from the West-South-West. Sapristi as committee boat with Sid in control, ably assisted by his daughterand Mike. But some boats were already racing to the start, but a great total of8 boats on the course. Z80 with only 3 minutes to spare after stepping their mast– very impressive Russ and Martyn.

So, course set from the line to PSC (port)-Naomi House(stbd)- PSC (port) – Line A. Who could remember line A!!!! So a slight bias on the line with Z74 approaching from the windward side – hoping to having a good transit for the start!!! Nice work Tom and team – a great lead at the start due to being on the line!!! Z74 extended through the race, but behind was a different issue – lots of place swapping on the first beat, with Z75 just sneaking in before Z79, Z78 and Z80! The hoist – had all the system been rigged right? – no quite on Z75 – but hopefully none saw. Z79 took advantage to take second place at the leeward mark in front of Z75. Z80 squeezed inside Z78 at the mark in a tight battle for fourth. The race continued with Z75 managing to secure second place on the beat followed by Z79, Z80 and Z78. Z54, Z77 and Z70 followed up behind.

Only for Julian to drop his hat in the water!!!