(Report from Ceres | Course H2)
A fresh and gusty breeze greeted the fleet for Sunday afternoon’s race, with conditions ranging from brisk to boisterous. The wind strength frequently exceeded 20 knots, and its direction proved especially challenging – persistently shifting between proper North and proper East, keeping crews on their toes and helms fully engaged.
Six boats competed on Course H2, which was well chosen by the Race Officer (Arke) to take full advantage of the conditions. The course offered a balanced mix of beats, reaches, and a satisfying run—an excellent layout for such a brilliant day on the water.
At the start, Ceres was quick off the line and looked to have been over early, prompting some quiet discussion and feedback. However, after careful observation, she was confirmed as clear and carried on to round the first mark (C) in the lead.
Catriona sailed a strong and tactical race, making an early and effective tack across to the Shandon shore on the beat to F capitalising on favourable shifts and cleaner air to take the lead on Ceres.
Thia, helmed by a guest, performed admirably despite a steady ingress of water through the floorboards. Her performance on the leg from C to F was particularly strong, where she took a strong lead for a while. Hermes also reported taking on water, likely due to her topsides drying and opening up after the recent spell of warm weather.
Circe and Arke held position in the middle of the fleet, handling the variable gusts and wind shifts with perseverance and control.
Only one lap was completed, as the race time crept just beyond the one-hour limit – ample distance given the conditions.
1 Catriona, 2 Ceres, 3 Thia, 4 Circe, 5 Arke, 6 Hermes
