Race report 15 May 2022

Our PRO on the day, Andrew Cox, reports:

On Sunday, we had another excellent turnout of 30 boats for races 4, 5, and 6 in our combined Winter Championship and Winter Point Score series. It was a beautiful warm day for this time of year, which made it easier than usual to get out of bed. But, this also meant a less reliable westerly breeze than normal.

Our on-water race management team of Andrew Cox, Mark Lewkovitz, Diana Chen, Andrea Kraus, and Tim Heath had their work cut out for them. After carefully laying the westerly course before the briefing, they discovered upon returning to the water that the breeze had shifted left 90 degrees. After waiting what seemed an appropriate length of time, they hurried to reset the course in time for the start, only to find, as the first boats arrived for the start, that the wind had flipped back to where it started. After a short AP, a third course was set, and racing got underway in a gentle breeze.

The breeze remained true throughout the morning, but continuously weakened, resulting in plenty of shortened course practice for the race management team, as well as more mark shifting as the marks were brought further in after each race. Congratulations to Daniel Costandi and Sylvie Stannage, who won all three scratch races in their respective fleets. The point scores were won in the full rigs by Dave Newman, Chris Berg, and Julian Taylor, and in the radials by Sylvie Stannage, Quentin Burns / Kate McHugh (tied), and Ian Alexander, respectively.

We were delighted to welcome Jeff Loosemore and Vai Ripley from MHASC to our fleet. Jeff uncharacteristically appeared in a full rig, in advance of his forthcoming back-to-back worlds campaigns in both the full rig and radial in Mexico.

Thanks to the on-water team, who were no doubt sore the next day, after lifting so many marks. A special thanks to Andrea, who turned up for duty despite his first baby being due that day. Fortunately for him (and us) there was no urgent call! We wish him and his wife all the best over the coming days.

And a big thanks also to Paul Adam, who made a delicious carrot and ginger soup, which kept everyone guessing as to the secret ingredient that gave it an incredible, smoky flavour! And a final thanks to Peter Collie, who heated the soup, defrosted the bread, and cleaned up afterwards.

Full results for both series are available on our website.