So finally Summer has arrived… a glorious Saturday race…
Unfortunately missing a couple of boats due to other commitments the fleet was down to four..z53, z54, z68 and z69…
Due to having three crew and previously z54 being gate boat..z69 took the honours of organising the course as OOD. With the wind in the north east the rendezvous point was Gleeds..
So the course set start(GL) - SS(p) - MR(p) -SS(s) - GL(p) - SS(fin).
New to the Saturday team on Z69 was Scam’s Australian brother…
The race started on time with the fleet waiting late to cross the gate. First out was Z53, followed by Z68 and then Z54 with the east going tide. Gate closed.. z69 to the north and the fleet to the south…
Beat to SS.. Z69 tacked.. but the shifting conditions allowed gains under the tide for the starboard tackers…
On the the first mark Z68 tacks followed by z54 and then z53. Z68 and z54 cross clear ahead of z69. Z69 tacks ahead of Z53.. The tack to the lay line… shifty conditions z54 on the layline first, Z68 follows but Z69 tacks under their bow… is it good?….
Round the mark z54, followed by z69 inside z68 with z53 in the rear…z69 just holding off z68 to the mark rounding…
Z54 Gybe stop go East, z69 and z68 run deep to the eastern tide…Gains made by Z54 with Z69 slighttly extending from Z68 with Z53 chasing hard…
Mary Rose Z54 slows a little, followed with a gap before z69, z68 and z53….
Beat to Suffolk sails…north to the mainland shore.. z69 lifting inside z54 but not enough… z68 slipping to a comfortable third.
So the story is … Scam birthday next week .. Max wants to book a weekend away … but the trophy.. Helmsman cup is more important… z68 need two firsts to clinch the trophy from the current leader(z69)….
The race continues.. z69 keeps Z54 honest but defending against Z68, with z53 following closely..
So the last leg z54 to the north channel, z68 tacks near the mark to the west…z69 tacks to cover…
Z54 wins, Z69 second, with Z68 third followed with Z53 a couple of minutes behind!!!
Congratulations to Z54, a fine win… Z69 completes the set to win the series… very happy Max…
Now to the next…. Presidents shield, well who knows in which home the trophy will hang….we’ll see you out there!