Offshore Sunday Races September 2018
Sunday 30th September 2018
On the last day of September 2 yachts turned out to face a challenging WNW gusty wind with broken cloud following the passing of a weather front. The start was delayed again for 10 minutes from 14:30 to allow for the traffic situation on the A55 for the crew members travelling from the mainland.
Rhumbull with 3 on board and Flair with 6 set off on a broad reach with Rhumbull flying her asymmetric shortly after the start but at the knuckle the apparent wind went forward of the mast and the spinnaker proved too problematic as she got into the very flaky winds at the knuckle. Flair IV powered away with her no 2 and 2 reefs in the main on the leg to the first mark, Bolivar averaging over 7.3kt. Whenever Rhubull’s spinnaker filled she accelerated rapidly but taking a much deeper line than Flair, finally dropping the spinnaker as she left the harbour.
- Hits: 1430
September Wednesday Offshore Race Series 2018
Wednesday 26th September
Another blustery but bright evening for the last Wednesday evening race of 2018. With sunset at 19:08 the race was shorter than normal but no less challenging. Wendy had set a great course of Meath, Clipera, Meath Clipera and finish, all to starboard. I like those kind of races so that I don’t forget which way to go round the mark!
With an entry of 4 yachts the countdown was eagerly awaited as the winds from the ssw gusted from 18 to 25kt. As usual there is a great deal of concentration required behind the start line as the boats vie for position through the moored vessels. All went well and the yachts all made a clean start with Rhumbull and Carpe Diem first over the line, Flair and Vision following closely.
- Hits: 421
HHSC team at the Irish 420 2018 Nationals
- Hits: 223
Offshore Wednesday Series August 2018
Race no 5 2018-08-29
Yet another light wind forecast but this week the wind due to fill in later. It was great to see Madam Wen back in the group after a busy August.
Circling round the moored boats in preparation for the start the six yachts were preparing for a downwind leg on a basic course set by the OOD Wendy, Clipera (s), Penrhos (p) and Finish. Incantation was first off with Flair in hot pursuit with her spinnaker already flying. Rhumbull was in 3rd place as she stayed out towards the breakwater with her asymmetric spinnaker on a broad reach. As she tacked and headed back on starboard tack there was some close sailing with Flair, on a dead run, having just overtaken Incantation to port needing to bear away to starboard, thus gybing, to avoid a collision with Rhumbull, forcing Incantation, now flying her spinnaker, to also gybe. Once clear to turn round Rhumbull’s stern Flair gybed back but that completely blanketed Rhumbull’s sails and in the very light winds all this action was fairly tense with a deal of shouting!
Once successfully past this danger point Rhumbull continued on her 120° wind angle across towards the moorings while Flair and Incantation continued on their dead downwind course directly to Clipera.
As Rhumbull gybed and sailed back on port tack she was just astern of Flair who had pulled out a reasonable lead over Incantation and Madam Wen as they passed the Aluminium Jetty. The duel continued with Rhumbull continuing to tack down wind but Flair remained ahead as the two yachts reached Clipera. Incantation was third at the mark with Madam Wen fourth and Vision and Hellhound bringing up the rear.
- Hits: 592
On The Water Harbour Tours and Try a Sail.
Due to a poor Weather Forecast for this weekend the events have been cancelled. We hope to rearrange these for later in the season.
- Hits: 617