Sunday 16th September 2018

Once again the forecast of better weather after 12:00 with high cloud breaking up provided a great start for the race. It had been decided, after a couple of weeks where the ferries had been late getting away from the harbour, to delay the start until 14:20. This week there were just four yachts starting with Ken sailing solo on Incantation. Phil having had to return home to get his keys was back just in time to finish his crew’s preparation on Rhunbull before leaving the mooring for the start.

From the start Rhumbull flew her asymmetric whereas Flair raised her spinnaker at the knuckle and Incantation, understandably, decided not to fly her spinnaker at all.

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Wednesday 12th September 2018

For once a Wednesday evening with a reasonable forecast for SSW winds between 11kt to 19kt and sunshine! Six yachts turned out for the 2nd of our Wednesday evening races in September and all got away cleanly with Incantation and Carpe Diem on the wall side Flair and Rhumbull further south. Incantation appeared to be leading as they headed to the knuckle but soon Flair was ahead in better wind with Rhumbull closing in with her asymmetric set and Helen at the helm.

The OOD had warned of a shipping movement at 18:20 but the ship was actually the small cruise liner and it followed Rhumbull as she tacked downwind,

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2018 09 22 social event

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Two teams from HHSC entered the Irish 420 Nationals in Howth Dublin this year, this was their first season in the bigger top level boats having transitioned from the Optimist class singlehanded junior dinghies sailed for the last 5 years at most UK national events. Stena Line Irish Sea very kindly supported entry with assisted travel for teams, families, vehicles and trailers.
 
Having trained at HHSC weekly since January this year the two teams of Matthew Ingram and Harri Burns GBR 55083 and Harry Ingram and Louis Mills GBR 55190, the latter boat with Louis Mills and Kieran Lewis have been competing in welsh CYRC series and have won 3 out of 5 events and 2nd in last one leading the series with final event in Shotwick SC in October.
 
The irish Nationals were the first National level 420 event entered for the two teams, it consisted of around 20 boats with top level sailors from Ireland and UK, the winners being almost Olympic level racers, the series was for 3 races a day, 9 total with one discard. Winds initially light day one becoming fresher 11-16 knots day two, actually 4 races in fresh winds, and day three light 7-9 knots in morning and fresh 12-16 knots in afternoon, 2 races run.
Day one saw Harry and Louis reach 7th overall, next day stronger winds for the lightweight crews down to 11th overall and 13 on final day where Matthew and Harri achieved a brilliant second in last race to take them to 12th overall and 3rd in the silver fleet and Harry/Louis 7th in Gold Fleet, a superb set of result for first major event.
 
The event was won by GBR team of Alex Colquit WKSC and Rebecca Coles from Annadale SC scotland with 8 wins and a 3rd after starting last! The winning Irish all girl team, 2nd Gold Irish National Champions and Irish Sailing Gold medalists Grace O'Beirne and Kathy Kelly Royal St George Yacht Club, followed by 3rd Gold and Irish Sailing Silver medalists Gemma Mc Dowell and Emma Gallagher Malahide Yacht Club and  4th Gold and Irish Sailing Bronze medailists Micheal O'Suilleabhain and Rob Keal Kinsale Yacht Club
 
Louis and Harry came 7th on the Gold fleet close behind some top levekl sailors so very well done for both HHSC teams in their first National event in the 420 class.
 
Next event being considered is UK 420 Nationals at Brightlingsea in Essex at end of Month. Many thanks for all support of HHSC and Stena Line for this hopefully first of many events.
 
Report by Cpt. Simon Mills
 
Click on the photo to see the album of the event.
 
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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.

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Due to a poor Weather Forecast for this weekend the events have been cancelled. We hope to rearrange these for later in the season.

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