It was a historic race – commemorating the very first victory race, 90 years ago.
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