Offshore Race Series May 2019 Wednesday Evenings
Wednesday evening 2019-05-22
A gentle WSW wind greeted the competitors as they prepared for the evening race. The new starting area is proving much less congested allowing the yachts to mingle closer to the line especially with the opportunity for downwind starts and preparing to fly their spinnakers. It was great to see the second launch in operation with the launch team fielding drivers for both launches to ensure quick access to the yachts. Thanks to all the team for making this happen.
Flair IV struggled with more engine starting issues and sailed off her mooring and in the light winds wasn’t quite as early to the start area as her skipper had hoped, so the spinnaker rigging wasn’t as timely as intended. Carpe Diem started closer to the breakwater with Houdini and Jetstream getting away within seconds of the start. Flair IV, Shearwater and Incantation followed on towards the first mark Bolivar.
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Offshore Race Series May Sundays 2019
2019-05-19 Race #3
The weather forecast for the day was that the light Westerly winds would die off during the afternoon and then freshen slightly later. As it happens the wind at the moorings certainly seemed to be from a Westerly direction and around 5 to 6kt with glorious sunshine as the yachts prepared for the race. Only 3 yachts turned out, Jetstream, Shearwater and Flair IV. Flair was introducing two prospective crewing members one of whom is a foiling dinghy sailor!
With the new start line, now shown on the Course Card on the website, much closer to the harbour entrance it was decided that the start scheduled for 14:05 should be postponed to 14:10 to avoid the Irish Ferry due to leave at 14:10. Many thanks to Jim Shuttler and the team for moving the transit pole to suit the new start line.
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Peggy Robinsons RIP
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Peggy Robinson overnight on Friday 3rd May 2019. Peggy was a stalwart member of the club and was our President for a number of years. She was the owner of Hellhound and sailed out of Holyhead for a very long time and now Hellhound is a reminder of her as the yacht continues to be based in Holyhead.
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Launch Service to Porth y Felin Moorings
Porth y Felin moorings holders are invited to buy in to the club’s launch service. This offer only covers those moorings north of the old marina – the area shaded yellow on the map.
The cost of this is £250 for the season, or £40 for a 4-week pass.
And is only available to HSC full members.
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Offshore Race Series April Sundays 2019
Sunday 2019-04-28
The forecast for Sunday published here was pretty accurate but no other boats turned out to join Flair on the race so it was abandoned. A big thanks to Kim and the launch team for repairing the bow of the pink launch damaged in the high winds over Friday night and into Saturday.
The pink launch had a significant hole worn in the bow stem and the metal protection strip has been lost. Kim informs us that this will be replaced when we can lift this launch out, once the blue launch is back in operation.
Sailing Instructions (These are still in draft awaiting confirmation from the Sailing Committee and therefore only available to website registered members)
Sunday 2019-04-21
With a lot of activity on moorings and the 
A very polished start by both yachts saw Flair chase off into the lead flying her code 0 from the knuckle eastward. All was going well but as they passed Clipera the spinnaker preparations ran into difficulties. Meanwhile Shearwater had tacked away north with Flair running in close to the coastline before tacking downwind towards Bolivar. At the buoy Flair had a considerable lead but through continuing problems with the rigging she sailed without headsail for quite a way allowing Shearwater to close the gap and as the boats approached Clipera Shearwater took the lead.
More and more problems on Flair IV allowed Shearwater to gain a considerable lead before Flair got her act together and started to pull back the gap and as they entered the harbour Flair IV caught Shearwater to take the lead two tacks from the finish. So a poor performance by Flair IV gave Shearwater an easy start to her season with a handicap win by some 24 minutes.
Sunday 2019-04-14
Our first offshore race of 2019 was held on 2019-04-14 with 2 boats entered; Flair IV and Hellhound. The results system handicaps have been updated to the latest NHC Handicap numbers. These races for offshores are what is called a tandem series allowing both NHC Variable handicapping and IRC fixed, measurement handicaps.
Since only one yacht, Flair IV is in the IRC class the IRC class is not valid for today’s race, just the NHC Class results are available.
The start time of 14:05 is set to miss the Irish and Stena Ferry departure times. The course today was from the start line passing Clipera to port then Bolivar to starboard coming back to Clipera passing to starboard then finish.
Jim on Hellhound was sailing single handed and Flair had a crew of 5 with variable winds of 5kt to 15kt Flair was clearly at an advantage beyond her handicap with a 2 minute 20 second corrected lead at the finish.
As the yachts passed Clipera there was a spectator:
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