WALKER ROCK RACE, 3rd APRIL 2005

 

As crews gathered on the docks preparing boats it was clear that the weather would

prove better than the forecast, and so it was. In fact it was a grand day of sailing with

sufficient wind to keep one alert but only on occasion to contemplate a reef and, as a

bonus, the rain held off.

 

Eleven boats crossed the line at the 1000 start and tacked down the harbour into

about 12 knots of true wind. JJ FLASH soon took up the lead but both YEOMAN and

ELECTRA were hanging onto the Flashes tail. Once past Welbury Spar sheets were

eased a little. Following the lead boats were ALACRITY, FINAL DASH, SOUL

DANCER, WEST WIND and QUESTO. The latter three are big boats and stood up to

their canvas well, making a grand sight.

 

Once through Captain Passage spinnakers were launched with pole to starboard as

the southerly wind had backed on entering Trincomali Channel. This did not last for

long and soon some exciting jibing in a strenthening wind gave an almost dead run

for the 3.8 miles to Walker Rock with the knot meter above 6.2 all the way. The race

order had not changed at the turn but after Governor Rock tactics for the up wind leg

came into play. The leading three boats stretched out their lead and ALACRITY was

overhauled by WESTWIND, QUESTO and FINAL DASH.  Once though Captain

Passage and clear of Welbury, spinnakers were up again. The wind had eased so the

run was not so exciting even so both QUESTO and WESTWIND managed to have

problems which let ALACRITY through.

 

JEEKERS had a fun day, which included a mast climb in strongish winds off Walker

Rock to recover a halyard.  SOUL DANCER was impressive downwind but was

hanging on up wind. SAORSA did well with NFS and AQILA MIA clearly had a

pleasant day on the water.

 

Results time on time

BOAT

SKIPPER

RTG

ELAPSED

CORRECTED

POINTS

ELECTRA

KIBBLE

141

3.37.10

3 33 33

100

YEOMAN

HUME

132

3.35.20.

3 34 40

91

JJ FLASH

FARSON

55

3.15.20

3 40 49

82

ALACRITY

JONES

144

3.45.45

3 40 59

73

WESTWIND

ANDERSEN

144

3.45.53

3 41 07

64

QUESTO

THORBURN

143

3.47.47

3 43 19

55

SAORSA

MCEWAN

198

4.9.16

3 45 40

45

FINAL DASH

WOOD

110

3.44.20

3 51 27

36

SOULDANCER

SIMPSON

127

3.52.55

3 54 00

27

JEEKERS

SLADEN-DEW

183

4.14.15

3 55 05

18

AQUILA MIA

DASHWOOD

145

4.11.06

4 05 26

09

 

It is perhaps worth noting that the results were the same when calculated time on

distance.

 

 

Next week we have the re-run of Round Prevost with a 1000 start.

 

Bob Jones,

ALACRITY