Victory Race Report Saturday 3rd May 2025
5 entrants for the race
Z75 – Scam, Z73 – Jim , Z68 – John, Z54 – Geoff (OOD), Z53 – Steve and Ron
Conditions – wind light and variable – mostly Northerly. Tide easterly changing to westerly later and flooding. Start 3 hrs before high tide.
The fleet assembled at KB and endured light and variable conditions and two changes of course before the wind steadied. Z54 (OOD) then decided upon the lucky third course starting at KB heading to PSC (port). Z54 set off on port tack and Z53 was first over the line powering towards PSC on the windward leg but graciously gave way to superior seamanship as Z54 and then Z75 rounded the mark. Spinnakers set the fleet set off to Gleeds. Z54, Z75, Z53, Z73, Z68.
Positions remained unchanged on the run. Rounding Gleeds (P) and heading for Yola most turned to starboard tack but Z68 remained on port longer, heading for the channel, which paid off as rounding Yola (S) Z68 had made up two places. Off to Gleeds again with no change in positions and then back to Yola to finish. Z54, Z75, Z68, Z53, Z73. The fleet tacked up the side of the main channel taking advantage of the flooding tide without change of position until the final seconds of the race when Z73 laid the mark on starboard, closer to the channel, as Z53 came across on port.
In a neck and neck race for last place Z53 just squeezed between Z73’stransom and the buoy as Z73 came about, half a boat’s length ahead up wind. Final result. Z54, Z75, Z68, Z73, Z53. Whilst Z54 and Z75 maintained consistent positions from PSC to the finish, Z53 enjoyed all possible positions but not necessarily in the best order.
Steve (Z53)