(Report from the Convenor on Circe)
It’s very heartening that every Sunday afternoon, and Tuesday evening, that you can predict there will be between 7 and 9 boats all taking part in the Gareloch racing. I count us very lucky that this is the case, and is probably the only fleet still doing so on the Clyde. Even more fortunate that the crews this evening included 3 people who recently had got in touch about coming out sailing on the boats.
The afternoon was always threatening rain, but it didn’t, and the wind was mainly from the west, with a touch of north in it, and strengthening during the day.
RO in Circe set an L7 course, Y-C-G-D-Z-C-B-Z. Race report authors normally know which end of the line was best to start on, but I’m not too sure. However but all boats got clean away from the line. Tacking up to C; well normally you can tell if one side is preferable, or the middle, but I don’t think it really mattered. What was noticeable was the gusts, shifts and the progress of Dione, Catriona and Arke up to C (all predictable then!).
Round C and spinnakers up to cross back to G. I think there were some things going on up front, changing of positions, but I couldn’t see. Then upwind again to D. Dione got there first, with Arke and Catriona maybe overstanding the mark (well definitely – but it was wise given the shifts) but Circe benefitted from a lift and rushed into the mark resulting in 3 boats all abreast, Dione, Circe and Catriona, with Circe sandwiched in the middle. Given that two of the new crew were in the outer boats, spinnaker hoisting was understandably a bit slower, Circe got hers up, just seemed to pick up a bit of wind and shot off. Arke came storming through as well, with Zephyrus leading on behind from Hermes, Athene and Thia.
Leading boat was 55 mins for the first round, so the 2nd round was a nice anti clockwise circuit up to C, then across to B and back to the line. From where I was, I think positions remained fairly static after that. C to B was a reach with gusts but do-able with spinnakers, Round B, Circe held her spinnaker up, but the gusts were getting pretty strong now and after doing a risk assessment of losing the lead, she took hers down. Catriona and Arke were neck and neck and amazingly Arke kept her spinnaker up, shipping water over the leeward gunwhale so fair play and *fist bump* RESPECT! She pulled slightly away from Catriona so it was a good call.
Also, well done to the new crews who all managed to get their spinnakers up with no disasters.
Results:
1 Circe (11), 2 Arke (5), 3 Catriona (3), 4 Dione (17), 5 Zephyrus (2), 6 Hermes (8), 7 Athene (6), 8 Thia (9)
