Yet again the wind gods have not been with us. Ten boats were out for a promising start in about 10 knots of wind from the SE and a glorious sunny day. A great sail was enjoyed by all to the Channel Islands but the wind started to go light at this point. Tides dictated that the rounding of the Islands should be clockwise and FINAL DASH and ELECTRA who were well ahead hugging the Moresby shore.
Most of the fleet followed this lead although SOUL DANCER and FANDANGO made the mistake of following ALACRITY along the Pender shore. Getting back down to the South end of Moresby proved to be challenging as we watched SAORSA and WESTWIND creep ahead to Pelorus Point.
Pelorus Point proved interesting to say the least. The tide was flooding and a Southerly wind line no more than 100 yds wide off the point was evident in a sea of glass. The only way round was very short tacking very close to the rocks. FANDANGO appeared to do better than most at this activity.
The back end of the course proved to be the undoing of those boats that actually got that far and by 1600 hrs sails were coming down and motors going on. By 1800 ALACRITY was clearing Beaver Point under power and was both surprised and relieved to see way ahead, FINAL DASH and ELECTRA also heading home under power. We understand that neither boat rounded Beaver Point under Sail.
We now have two major races in the club calendar uncompleted. Fitting these two into the first available slots provides for a very active April-May- June.
REVISED RACING CALANDER FOR APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.
25TH APRIL BAS COBANLI MEMORIAL TROPHY
2ND MAY SAIL PAST FOLLOWED BY NFS SHORT RACE
9TH MAY RE RUN OF WALKER ROCK RACE
22ND MAY ROUND SALT SPRING
6th JUNE CHANNEL ISLANDS #2
13TH
JUNE RE
RUN OF PORTLAND MORESBY
22ND JUNE JACK AND JILL
26TH JUNE MAPLE BAY LEG #1
27TH JUNE MAPLE BAY LEG #2
Just in case this is not enough on the water activity, the Wednesday evening series starts on the 5th May.
Up dated points standing will be published shortly.
Bob Jones,
Alacrity, 19th April.