Results for June Wednesday night series

Wednesday June 30, 2010

This Wednesday the Saltspring Island Sailing Club fleet arrived to a gentle breeze that showed signs of being fickle. After getting burned last week with a dying breeze that almost stranded Impossible, and on David Wood's recommendation we kept the racing in the harbour. To add interest a tug boat was thrown into the mix to act as mark #2 followed by a reaching leg to Grace Point, a beat to the club where the race would either end or go for a second round. This being relatively clear in most minds we set off on a beat to Ganges Shoal. Minke was caught barging at the start but cleverly slipped above the mark and re rounded in a most seaman like and gentlemanly manner. In the early going the fleet split tactically, with Imp, Final Dash and Electra going left to get across the tide and find that Port Tack lift that can take you off Goat and spit you out into the lead. Those that started right at the pin like the Kay D and Paramour chose to play the right side which had some good lifts and perhaps a bit more wind. When the fleet came back together abreast of Deadman Island everyone was in approximate handicap order with no clear advantage to either side. There followed some exciting close tacking up the Deadman side and the gap to the First Sister with some minor changes of position among the leaders while the slower boats chose to go right. For those who were now on the left side of the course the trick would be when to leap back into the tide and cross over to the mark. Imp, Final Dash and Electra called this right and made it over just in time to stay ahead of Impossible, Paramour and Minke who were storming along in a patch of good breeze on the right hand side of the course. Empezar, Kay D and Tara's Whisper got to the mark in a calm patch that made judging the lay line in the fast moving tide quite challenging, but round they went and the harbour was full of blossoming spinnakers for the run into the harbour. The boats gybed back and forth looking for that little advantage of tide or wind as they bore down on the Breeze, blissfully unaware that she was the second mark of the course. Imp lead the way with impeccable crew work, rounding the Grace Point mark and slipping home to take the win. Impossible also sailed a great race and took second and the podium was rounded out by Final Dash in third place. Congratulations to skippers Slakov, Erdmer and Wood and their hard working crews. Electra, who had a very young and enthusiastic crew, managed to miss the last mark in all the excitement but that seemed to in no way dampen their enjoyment of the evening. All the crews assembled on the sailing club dock at the end of the race and swapped tales of glory and misadventure while the ever generous Tony Meek roasted and fed us objects that resembled pieces of sausage, lending a slightly piratical air to what had been a very pleasant evenings sail.

Submitted by Martin Herbert from the deck of the Kay D, who had a good view of the action as it was happening in front of her.=

SISC Wednesday Round the Buoys June 23, 2010

Eight skippers arrived to find an unexpectedly brisk but warm south east breeze spinning the windvanes. It was good to see Klaathem back on the circuit after her spring cleaning and the refurbishment of captain Patrice. The course was set to Batt, U62, Welbury and back. Electra and Imp jumped to an early lead which they progressively lengthened over the course. Final Dash, KD and Paramour traded tacks going up the harbour followed by Empezar, Impossible and Klaathem who also did a little jostling for position. On the downwind from U62, single hander Roger in training for Vendee, had an hourglass in his spinnaker for the leg to Wellbury but still managed to stay ahead of Imp. Imp did run him down very close to the finish to take line honours. The wind died noticeably at the sisters as the evening progressed, making the run down the harbour slower for the trailing boats. In the light fickle winds, the attention to sail trim increased dramatically as gains and losses in position became very obvious to the crews. Final Dash overtook KD and Klaathem passed Paramour in the last few hundred yards, either due to incredible skill or dumb luck depending on which boat you were on. Philippe got stuck with almost no wind but stuck it out to finish to the cheers of the beer drinkers on the dock.

Keith Simpson.

Wednesday June 16, 2010

There were seven boats out on a nice breezy, sunny, warm evening. The course was set to U62, Batt Rock and home. There was lots of action before the start; unfortunately Yolanda got badly delayed while they repositioned the start mark about 50 metres downwind of its original position. The fleet split left and right beyond the Sisters, with those on the left by Welbury spar enjoying slightly better breeze, and those on the right enjoying a significant lift to the mark. There was a nasty ebb running at U62, causing several extra tacks here and there. The ebb also made it necessary to steer a course 15 or so degrees high of Batt Rock if you wanted to make it in one go.

After the race it was noted that Final Dash has been working on its handicap – there is a good crop of barnacles growing on her. Is David working on a new delicacy?

Greg Slakov on Imp

Wednesday June 9 2010

A nice 5 to 8 knot breeze, course to Ganges Shoal and Grace Point, twice around, and the rain held off until just before the end. The post race gathering was held on the biggest boat in the race – Minke.

I was notified that some people may be using the wrong transit for the finish. Please continue to use the peak of the gable roof as the far mark and the diamond on the breakwater as the near mark. The start line is still the line between the start marks.

Many thanks, Greg on Imp