Results for August 2010 Wednesday night series

Well done Paramour!

Wednesday, August 11, Evening Race

With Big Wave Dave predicting winds of 5 to 10 knots, an ambitious course of two laps around Ganges Shoal and Grace Point was set. After some confusion on the start line, almost everyone got away in a steady wind on a starboard tack, only momentarily blanketed by two rather large barges which quickly made their way off of the race course and out of the harbour. Big Wave Dave’s predictions proved to have significant holes in them which stopped boats dead in their tracks.

Imp, who had gotten off to a good early start, could soon be seen sitting in the middle of the harbour going absolutely nowhere and the rest of the fleet scattered across the course following little bits of wind praying they were going in the right direction. Oasis and Mad Dash, hoping for a lift on the south side of the harbour, got caught in the biggest hole of all, while Final Dash, Paramour and Empezar worked their way up the left side of the harbour short-tacking to stay in the little bit of breeze that there was on that side.

Before Final Dash or Paramour could pass them, Imp had made their way into the wind line and had again opened a solid lead heading for Ganges Shoal. Imp and Final Dash popped their spinnakers as soon as they rounded the mark but an ever lightening wind made for slow going and any thoughts of two laps around the course were long forgotten.

Paramour was next to round the mark, followed by Empezar. Both boats also flew their spinnakers but the light finicky winds weren’t making for exciting sailing at this point. The leg to Grace Point saw all boats chasing bits of wind wherever they could find it. Mad Dash and Oasis had finally rounded the windward mark and were making their way downwind as best they could. As everyone rounded the mark at Grace Point, they doused their spinnakers, and found themselves in a nice bit of steady wind to bring them home to the finish line.

Gyle on Empezar

Wednesday, August 18, Evening Race

Some people will do anything to get out of a job. Bob Jones cheerfully volunteered to do the race reporting at the skippers meeting, where we set a course of U62 to starboard, U60 to port, U62 to port, and home. (U60 is the one near Prevost Island, just opposite the Channel Is). The start occurred in perhaps 10 knots of wind, and boat speeds were up. Much of the fleet went left to the Chain Is, where Oasis promptly lost her mast just as she was about to tack. Luckily, the only injury was to David Pothier, who got a cut on his knee from the boom as it left the boat. That left the race reporting to me, as Bob and his crew had their hands full getting back to the dock with the rig dragging behind, trying to keep all the lines and shrouds from fouling the propeller.

The remainder of the fleet stayed in contact with one another for the majority of the race. Too much so, in the case of Final Dash and Electra, who nearly collided in a port/starboard incident up by Ganges Shoal. Final Dash's resulting penalty turns put her well behind Electra and Imp as they made their way to U62. However, David Wood made the wise call of diving into the new ebb current at Captain Passage, and made huge gains to get to U62 first, ahead of Electra and then Imp, with Paramour and Kay D just behind. Empezar was a bit behind at this point, because Gyle had had to do a single-handed reef in Ganges Harbour.

Despite the newness of the ebb, the current was running quite significantly, and it paid to stay in it on the way to U60. Final Dash and Electra rounded first, and gybed and set their chutes for the ride home. Unfortunately, as is common, the wind had eased, and the downwind ride was held in less wind than the beat.

On the way back, Imp stayed close to Secret Island and got current relief, allowing them to get back to U62 first, only to be passed again by Final Dash at the Sisters. Electra unfortunately forgot about U62, and received a dnf for her efforts. Paramour had elected to go NFS, which was not a great penalty at first, but as the wind moderated, it began to hurt her. Kay D could really have used more wind too, as she was right in touch with the “big boats”, but could not get up on a plane to catch them.

A fine race occurred in more wind than usual, but this was overshadowed by Oasis's lost mast. When back on the dock, beers were postponed by an hour or two while the gathered sailors managed to bring the broken mast and sails back onto the dock with much grunting and groaning. Patrick O'Brian would have been proud of us! (Those of you who don't know Patrick O'Brian need to go straight to the library and get his “Master and Commander” out, and read it right away. I also have a copy for lending).

Greg Slakov on Imp.

Wednesday Night race August 18^th at SISC

It was destined to be anything but a usual Wednesday night race. White foaming waves had been whipped up by sun-powered 20-knot wind and a wild sailing sleigh ride was anticipated. A longer course to U60 via U62 with the same route on the return leg was chosen and this made our anticipation even stronger. But no one anticipated the drama that was only minutes away.

The fleet rushed up and down the start line like startled chickens and then crowded at the favoured dock pin end. A well-reefed OASIS charging along at 6.5 knots timed it best with ELECTRA and IMP also on the line with KAY D quickly finding clear breeze just ahead of PARAMOUR, FINAL DASH and EMPERZAR.

But just as OASIS neared the Chain Islands on the first tack there was a great bang, OASIS slowed and her mast toppled like a felled tree over the port side with all her sails and boom in a single pile. ELECTRA immediately tacked behind her stern to see Bob Jones give a big shrug of the shoulders that said ‘Oh well” or possibly something more colourful. No one was hurt except David Portier who nursed a bruised knee. Bob and crew immediately went into salvage mode. The fleet carried on and tacked their way towards the Sisters with ELECTRA leading followed closely by IMP, KAY D, a charging PARAMOUR and FINAL DASH now going very fast.

Then just before second Sister Island FINAL DASH on a port tack tried to duck ELECTRA but stalled their rudder and instead opted for an emergency tack unfortunately too late to avoid ELECTRA’s mast head. Another crash and ELECTRA’s masthead light and Windex pieces also dropped into the briny. No major damage was done except to egos so David did his 720, ELECTRA tacked away and both boats continued in the race.

IMP was now ahead with ELECTRA and a flying KAY D close behind. PARAMOUR was showing her heels too and the fleet tacked themselves smartly to U62. FINAL DASH choose the Captain’s Passage route, IMP choose the Salt Spring side and ELECTRA split the difference. ELECTRA rounded first just ahead of FINAL DASH who was making up ground fast. By U60 between Prevost Island and the Channel Islands FINAL DASH had moved ahead closely followed by ELECTRA, IMP and a very impressive PARAMOUR. KAY D and EMPERZAR were not far behind.

The wind had now moderated to about 8kts and the run home was more sedate. IMP found some strong wind on the Prevost shore and soon the leading three boats were running abreast almost all the way to the finish line although ELECTRA had forgotten to leave U60 to port and so DNF’d. (Roger blamed it on his visitors who fed him too many salmon chive croissants). PARAMOUR lost a little ground but kept up good speed despite going NFS. KAY D and EMPERZAR made good use of their chutes and the fleet finished this long course by 7.30pm. KAY D corrected out to win from PARAMOUR, a just result in the chaotic circumstances.

But the race was not yet really over. All crews then assembled on the dock to help Bob retrieve his still sunken mast and sails. For over an hour under Bob’s energetic direction we pulled and pushed the very heavy mast and water-laden sails. At last the furler gear was detached, the jib removed and the whole group slowly raised the whole sad mess to the main dock to await insurance inspection. We speculated that a failed turnbuckle had caused the failure.

We drank Bob’s scotch in the setting sun, toasted his survival and savoured a most exciting, unusual and memorable evening.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The last race of the Wednesday night series was graced with perfect sunny weather and mostly steady southeasterly breeze with calm patches near the end. Seven boats lined up for the chosen course of Ganges Shoal (P), Welbury spar (P) and Ganges Shoal (S), almost exactly 5 nautical miles with a running flood tide to challenge skippers to find back currents on the way out and strong currents on the way home.

The day saw much less excitement than the previous race, when Oasis was dismasted and Electra and Final Dash made contact, and was a perfect end to this summer's racing. Seven boats lined up for a starboard tack start at the favored Club end of the line and either short tacked up the east side, or took their chance along the west side which proved to be the less favored course. An early lead by Imp was almost given up in a patch of light air, with Final Dash and Paramour making up ground to the first mark, followed by Electra, Klaathem, Kay D and Empezar. From there, the reach to Welbury spar saw the fleet spread out without much change in relative positions. Imp's lead on Final Dash began to widen after rounding Welbury, in part due to Final Dash sampling some green paint off the spar and performing a 360 degree turn (to try and wash the paint off, presumably; we noticed that she docked on starboard side after the race, preventing us from investigating further).

Imp and Final Dash could not be caught after Ganges Shoal, finding wind right up to the finish line in Imp's case, while Final Dash ran out of breeze at the breakwater at a most unlucky time and thus yielded second place to Paramour drifting the last few boat lengths in on the tide. They were followed by Kay D and Electra which had staged an impressive comeback. The wind picked up further to bring Empezar and Klaathem home in what could otherwise have been the usual flat calm at the end of so many previous races.

Philippe Erdmer on Paramour.

On corrected time, the finishing order was.....