Race Reports 2007

Short reports after each race of the GP14 Class Racing at P.Y.C. in REVERSE date order

LATE SUMMER SERIES (Evenings)
Thurs 13 Sept	18 GPs turned out for the last evening race of the season. With a low water strong tide and a F2 expected to die it was doomed. The crowded pin end forced a general recall, very few heard it and the fleet charged up the harbour. Returning through the line after the first mark, noticing the class flag it was spinnakers down and start again chaps. Colin & Andy in The Big Floater lead from the restart and through the painful remainder of the race as the wind went down. Luckily relief came when the race officer shortened at a mark. The result saw the winners take the series with second place Talula (Mike & Maggs), runners up. Anne and Sue in Reflection earned a well deserved third. (DV)
Mon 10 Sept	A NW F3 for the last Monday race which must go down as the closest of the season with positions changing throughout. Once again, back from mid fleet Talula stole the show to win, proving Mike & Maggs as worthy series winners. Out of Control with Jenny Macgregor and Chris Doe were always up there but eventually had to settle for second ahead of the good performance from Den and Clyde in Super Chuck. (DV)
Thurs 6 Sept	Force 2 northerly and summer continues. 16 GPs competed in another attempt to beat the commodore. With Colin & Andy out in the Big Floater, who can give them a run ? Early stages, it could have been anyone but by the second reach they were away. White Knuckles (Mike & Ian) and Talula (Mike & Maggs) pursued but by Dusk (8 p.m.) they finished in that order. Down the fleet plenty of competition. (DV)
Mon 3 Sept	Another Northerly F2-3 with a course of runs and beats. A kite start for the 12 GPs with Mike & Ian getting it right but by sailing the port side of the run lost them seven places. The Brann's in White Heat initially followed but by gybing over, joining the running and with well chosen routes up the beat, earned a second. Third place and congratulations go to guest helm, Scott Terry and crew Darren in Celtic Tiger. By the way, Mike and Maggs in Talula again untouchable, sailed away for another win which surely must clinch them the series. (DV)
Thurs 30 August	A Force 3, low water, up and down the channel course that wasn't processional for the 12 GPs. Tactics were definitely the game and Moby (Andy & Taras) got it right start to finish. Talula (Mike & Maggs) as usual worked their way up the fleet this time to finish second with Mike and Ian in White Knuckles recovering at the end to take third. (DV)
Mon 27 August	Another cracking Summer's evening with again northerly breezes. F3 this time and a course mainly of beats and runs. A reaching start in the strong flood tide for the 14 GPs kept the fleet together but the long testing beats soon sorted them. At the line after two rounds, David & Barbara in White Heat returned to form with Talula (Mike & Maggs) just pipping Matt & Serina in Chuckie. (DV) (Final Result subject to protest)
Thurs 23 August	Summer has resumed and a beautiful evening sail in light winds. 12 GP14s raced the unusual course but perfect for the northerly breeze. A competitive start had Talula going back adjudged OCS. The leaders, White Knuckles (Mike & Ian) match raced Anne & Serina in Reflection for most of the race but a determined Talula climbed all the time pounced on the final beat to give another win for Mike & Maggs. (DV)
Mon 20 August	An incident closing Poole Bridge caused mayhem on the diversions and the grounds for postponement to get the 11 GPs on the water. The strange course of two triangles proved perfect for the northerly wind (F2-3) with White Knuckles and Out of Control starting best at the pin end. White Knuckles then free-falled down the fleet but Chris Doe and Jenny Macgregor took the lead to the final beat when Talula (Mike & Maggs) completed their climb up the fleet by overtaking and crossing first. Third place went to Ian & Ted in Indecisive. (DV)
Thurs 16 August	Blustery and uninviting before the start but as the wind dropped to a F3 and the sun made an occasional appearance, 13 boats fought the tide in a mainly channel course due to low water. The big guns (Colin & Andy) were out in The Big Floater and as always were the boat to beat. With the favourites choosing the right side of the course most of the others chose the left led by Anne & Serina in Reflection. At the mark Reflection rounded just ahead and for the triangle then the sausage, held them off to a nervous finish with Moby (Andy & Taras) coming 3rd. (DV)
Mon 6 August	Only 10 boats out after our Open Weekend but a good time was had by all thanks to the steady F5 and the well chosen square shaped course. Matt & Serina in Chuckie lapped up the conditions and looked good to hang on but as the wind eased at the end, White Knuckles (Mike & Ian) got through with Ian & Ted (Indecisive) earning second. (DV)
Thurs 2 August	Mainly F2 and another low water channel course for the 14 GPs with tactics being the game. The strong ebb tide played the biggest part in this race and staying out of it on the beats and sailing back with it up the channel paid dividends. The Big Floater (Matt & Andy Burge) got it right to the end but Den & Clyde in Super Chuck popped up at 2nd on the final beat by choosing the route up the wall. These two held it to the end with Mike & Maggs in Talula coming in third. (DV)
Mon 30 July	This is more like it ! At last Summer's arrived. Only 13 GPs started in the strong flood tide, channel course, F3-4 and the chance to sail in shorts. The course proved good giving beats, broad reaches and runs. The Big Floater was out with Matt Burge & Hamish Kemp and it looked at one time that Mike & Maggs in Talula might pip them but true to form it went with Out of Control (Jenny Macregor & Jez Nichols) finishing third. (DV)
SUMMER SERIES (Evenings)
Mon 23 July	Light wind and rain. Only 10 GPs were tempted but those who weren't missed a good race. Anne & Richard in Reflection had the perfect start by choosing the correct end with Out of Control (Jenny & Jez) on their heels. These two are hard to hold off and they soon took the lead. The course was good, the wind picked up and the tricky beats saw Mike & Maggs (Talula) coming from last at the start to finish 2nd. (DV)
Thurs 19 July	Warm & sunny with a strong tide and no wind. AP up, delayed start, AP down, Paddle out, Start gun, spend 10 minutes trying to cross the line, race cancelled - paddle back - into the bar. Good fun this sailing ! (DV)
Mon 16 July	Due to low water, a course was selected 2 miles down the harbour (against the tide) and then back to the finish line (against the tide) !?!? A beautiful evening for a sail, only a F2-3 but with no beat and a strong tide it must be a race to forget. Mike and Maggs in Gateau Passion thought otherwise after rounding 4th place at the final mark stole the race by sailing directly to the line after the leader, White Knuckles (Ian & Mike) covered White Heat who chose to fight the tide. (DV)
Thurs 12 July	A gusty force 5 with 13 starters but another report from the bar for me. Mike & Ian in White Knuckles made the most of the conditions and beat The Big Floater into 2nd with Indecisive (Ian & Ted) coming third. (DV)
Mon 9 July	After the last three races being cancelled through high winds, tonight's chance to sail in a breezy F5 attracted 12 GPs. With the wind veering just before the start the starboard end starters had the advantage. Best away was Chuckie (Matt & Serina) who led the fleet to the final lap. Ian & Ted (Indecisive) pressurising throughout took the lead at the penultimate mark but a poor rounding allowed Chuckie to regain the lead and The Big Floater into the frame. This time Matt & Serina held on to it with the Big Floater looking forward to a 2nd but adjudged OCS gave Indecive the spot with White Knuckles (Mike & Ian) 3rd. (DV)
Mon 25 June	“To see what is in front of your nose needs a constant struggle” George Orwell must have been a sailor. However looking at what’s behind your back was the reason four boats managed to stay upright when a force 7 squall suddenly hit the fleet on the run to RBX. Difficult and exciting sailing for the 9 GP’s who managed to start in a blustery north westerly. White Heat was the first to drop their spinnaker, sailing from the back through the capsize carnage and into the lead. First over the finish White Heat followed by Indecisive and White Knuckles. (MA)
Thurs 21 June	The F4-5 attracted only 11 GPs to start in the well chosen square continuous course. The long beats were hard work but followed by three good spinnaker legs was worth it. Colin & Andy in Big Floater once again led the fleet and held it to the end pursued by White Knuckles (Mike & Ian) with Tony & Richard (Calypso) taking third. Ian & Ted (Indecisive) would have been up there but the combination of kite reaching and lassoing Arne mark put paid to their evening. (DV)
Mon 18 June	With the wind coming from Arne and the tide going out the whole night I asked my crew which way we should go. The first leg was Yellow Line start (odd) to Latch . So his proposal of starting furthest post from the hut and tack out of the tide seemed plausible. The biased line and strong tide had everybody bunched up at the post and sure enough most tacked off towards Piccadily. Some headed up the Warham channel in the tide. Although this had some benefits on the first leg, not all of the lead boats followed the tactic on the second leg to WH2. Those that did benefited and had Celtic Warrior up with the White Heat, Out of Control, Chuckie and White Knuckles. Reaching back into the tide from Arne was processional to 36. Amazingly some boats still tacked off out of the tide. Favourable lifts and lee bowing saw Celtic Warrior lead the way to WH2 with Out of Control and White Knuckles on our heals. Sadly an over enthusiastic spinnaker hoist allowed Jenny Mac & Mike A to get through but with good crew work Matt V was held to fourth. A good course even if it was a 99 (MM)
Thurs 14 June	Force 3 again with eighteen GP starters, most of them crammed at the pin end. The chaos caused a few to shoot the mark but the favourites got it right and soon it was Calypso (Tony & Richard) chasing the top team of Colin Rainback & Andy Burge in Big Floater. The wind shift before the start had the fleet fetching the mark but the reach of the next leg had them beating with the shifts. The two leaders stayed fixed during the two hour race with the fight for 3rd being won and deservedly so by the girls (Anne & Serina) in Reflection. (DV)
Mon 11 June	Another fine evening with 14 Gps starting in a F3 south-westerly. Tonight the boat to catch was Out of Control with Chris Doe & Jenny Macgregor. They worked hard to get to the front and once up there fought with the Brann's (David & Barbara) in White Heat and the Williams's (Mike & Maggs) in Talula . Despite the long testing beats, they held on crossing just ahead of Talula with White Heat third. (DV)
Thurs 7 June	14 starters in a F3 NE and another warm evening. An unusual course of 2 triangles which gave some close racing especially for The Big Floater (Commodore - Colin Rainback & Andy Burge) who as usual gained the lead and looked good to take it the end. The strong opposition from Out of Control (Andy & Jenny Macgregor) and David & Barbara Brann in White Heat had other ideas and challenged throughout. The Commodore finally had to settle for 2nd as White Heat (on the penultimate beat) pulled a rabbit from the hat and held them off to the finish. (DV)
Mon 4 June	With a F2-3, 15 GP14s lined up on a pleasant warm evening for a low water channel course. It was a night for tactics in and out of the tide and Matt & Serina got it right with Chuckie and were first at the mark. The commodore (Colin Rainbach) and guest crew, Carly Burge were clear favourites and soon took up the lead but Chuckie was always there, eventually claiming 4th, giving way to Jenny Macgregor & Chris Doe in Out of Control (2nd) with White Heat, David & Barbara Brann (3rd). An enjoyable race considering the wind direction and no real beat. (DV)
SPRING SERIES (Evenings)
Thurs 31 May	You could move forward with progress, but the GP14 course setting committee decide to kick it away, needless to say choosing the wrong course – 37 degrees wrong. With the recently installed technology saying the wind direction is 125 a course for 88 is chosen and surprise surprise its processional racing yet again. 16 GP’s on the start with 10 knots of south easterly and a strong flood tide. Making the correct decisions, Indecisive was first off the line and first round the windward mark, but not for long with The Big Floater in the lead by the jybe mark. First over the finish (and winning the Thursday spring series) The Big Floater, followed by Indecisive, and White Knuckles. (MA)
Mon 28 May	The rain stopped – at last, and the sun came out with 12 to 18 knots of northerly wind but as it was another bank holiday Monday most sailors stayed away, only 6 GP’s at the start. Much deliberation about the course provided the wrong one, resulting in yet another processional race. First off the line White Heat who managed a very risky start at the inner distance post followed by Out of Control who took the lead at the first mark. And that’s how it stayed all race. First over the finish Out of Control followed by White Heat and White Knuckles who with this third place wins the spring Monday series. (MA)
Thurs 24 May	Record numbers of GP’s on the start with a light westerly and sunshine. White Knuckles and The Big Floater arrived at the windward mark together after changing places several times up the beat. With tempers fraying an aggressive luff by The Big Floater resulted in penalty turns from White Knuckles, dropping to third place, and the battle was on to stay there while the leading two boats sailed into the distance. First over the finish The Big Floater followed by White Heat and White Knuckles. (MA)
Mon 21 May	The GP’s picked a perfect course for the light northerly breeze, however failed to notice that all other classes were starting in the opposite direction – doh! Race officer Barry changed the course to the same as the others, which unfortunately proved to be a reachy fetchy kind of thing – probably great with a jenniker… At least Barry posted a boat at the haven entrance to let us know. Reflection and Talula choose the short pin end of the line for a start to Cakes mark. The rest of the fleet went for spinnakers from the hut end, but lost out without enough wind to overcome the extra distance. Reflection held off Talula for a couple of rounds but eventually was “got” on the gybe at Cakes. White Heat made excellent progress through the fleet, finally pinching third place from White Knuckles. (AS)
Thurs 17 May	The Big Floater was off to a flying start with our commodore firmly in command getting to the first mark in the lead followed by Out of Control, only to find it was the wrong one – not again. The rest of the fleet correctly rounded WH2 and were away on a long channel course with a strong flood tide and 18knots of westerly. By sailing out of the tide Out of Control managed to get from last to first, and obviously concentrating on not sinking or falling out of the boat managed to stay in the lead to the finish, surviving a vicious attack at the leeward mark from The Big Floater who finished second followed by Tallulah, the rest of the fleet had a processional race but with the wind fading away to nothing, most elected for a tow home. (MA)
Mon 14 May Thurs 10 May Cancelled	Cold, dark, damp, and a blustery North-westerly force 4 sometimes 6, just the sort of weather we have all been waiting for, and necessary for exciting GP sailing, perhaps not, 14 started out, 13 made it to the start, 9 finished. Several boats over at the start in the strong flood tide, White Knuckles restarted but made it to the first mark in 3rd. Screaming two sail reach followed, most of the fleet went too high allowing White Knuckles a massive lead. Out of Control capsized after the crew fell overboard (always check your toe straps). Moby, Tallulah, and Indecisive all managed to claim second at various times. An extra long race but must be better than the 25mins two weeks ago. First over the finish White Knuckles followed by Indecisive and Tallulah. (MA)
Mon 7 May	Monday nights seem to be dominated by the GP14 fleet, this week GP’s 8, Dayboats 3, Mirrors 1, Other fleets 0. But it was a bank holiday and with no race officer or rescue boats and a force 7 westerly it looked like no race. By 18.00 the wind dropped (a bit), emergency race officer and rescue teams appeared, the sun came out and the race was on. Tallulah capsized before the start but made it to the line, 7GP’s finally started. First off the line White Knuckles followed by Reflection and Moby starting at the club end of the blue line and with a massive bias, boats at the pin were way back. Non stop planing reaches. Moby managed to pass Reflection into second on the last beat only to be retaken before the finish. First over the line White Knuckles followed by Reflection and Moby. (MA)
Thurs 3 May	A fine sunny evening, Force 3, 15 GPs and a low water channel course. Perfect conditions, but just one lap meant a measly half hour race. With Colin Rainback & Andy Burge out in Big Floater it was chase the Commodore again and chase it was as they seized the lead and held it. Moby (Andy & Taras) came in 2nd with Mike & Maggs (Talula) 3rd. (DV)
Mon 30 Apr	On a beautiful evening the wind filled from the outer end of the white line just after the start, giving a big advantage to the boats who went for a port flier – Snowy, Indecisive and Reflection. Martin and Greg in Moondust were also in the mix – great start guys! Of those stranded down by the wall end White Knuckles and Out of Control (crewed by Olympic hopeful Lucy McGregor and sister Kate) managed to catch up by the first mark, and this group opened up a significant gap on the rest of the fleet. Round the jibe mark the wind really started to pick up, which made for an overly exciting tight reach – Ian and Ted in Indecisive heroically held on to their spinnaker but went too far past the mark letting Reflection in to second behind Out of Control. Meanwhile, White Knuckles was moving up on the inside, passing Reflection on the next run. Final placings - Out of Control first, White Knuckles second and Reflection in third. (AS)
Thurs 26 Apr	A gentle northerly 8knots on the start saw White Knuckles and Calypso first off the line after a last minute course change towards Cakes. Out of control was back on form after sinking last Thursday to take the lead to Balls Lake in a freshening breeze. Nothing like a good sinking to focus the mind (always remember your bung). White Knuckles took the lead up the beat and with the wind now full on and gusting over 25knots blasted down the reach closely followed by The Big Floater. Carnage at jybe mark and next tight reach with several capsizes. First over the finish The Big Floater followed by White Knuckles and Tallulah. Great racing shame it had to finish. (MA)
Mon 23 Apr	After some doubt as to whether racing would be cancelled due to poor visibility, a light south westerly saw 9 boats leave the blue line for ball's lake. Despite the tide still coming in, starting at the far end and keeping out to the left was the thing to do, as ably demonstrated by Moby and Reflection who soon built up a commanding lead from the rest of the fleet. Anne outmanoeuvred Andy to get to the mark in first place, and stayed there until the finish, despite Andy's attempt to continue to fly the spinnaker after rounding the last mark (36). Another first for Reflection!, followed by Moby with place was taken by Ian & Rachel in Indecisive. (IW)
Thurs 19 Apr	Light northerly winds and a strong flood tide greeted the GP14 fleet today (I am sure I’ve heard that before), and with an exceptionally low tide a new channel course was carefully selected from the infamous book. Our Commodore sailing The Big Floater, battled with White Knuckles for prime position on the start and lead the fleet round the first three marks towards T1, but unfortunately went to T2 instead followed by everyone else except Snowy who happened to know the correct location of T1. First over the finish Snowy, to be disqualified by the race officer for finishing too quickly, followed by The Big Floater, Taula, and White Knuckles. (Snowy managed to get reinstated in the bar after buying the race officer a drink). (MA)
Mon 16 Apr	Light northerly winds and a strong flood tide greeted the GP14 fleet today. The new course book provided an interesting course, but the new trial marks proved confusing with the leading boats going to T4 instead of Cakes. However Ann Short & Richard Lane (Reflection) and Out of Control got it right. First over the finish Ann followed by Out of Control and White Knuckles. Well done Ann & Richard !! (MA)
Thurs 12 Apr	Warm and Sunny and just a trickle of breeze for the 14 starters who painfully crawled round one small triangle. Colin Rainback & Andy Burge (Big Floater) made the best of it ahead of Tony & Richard in Calypso. A good result of third place for Martin & Greg in Moondust. (DV)
Mon 9 Apr	13 GP’s arrived at the start for the first evening race of the season with a light north westerly breeze. A massively biased line caused chaos at the pin end but Big Floater, Out of Control, Moby, and White Knuckles got away and rounded the windward mark ahead of the fleet. The unpredictable wind shifts on the second beat made difficult sailing, but Snowy and Celtic Warrior managed to get from the back to 3^rd and 4^th by sailing up the channel in maximum tide. First over the finish Big Floater followed by Out of Control and Tallulah who just pipped Snowy on the line. (MA)