Solent First Weekend Race Report 30 April  2008

Our Solent season has started and what a cracking first weekend it was. Saturday was sunny and the warmest day of the year so far, with many crews opting for shorts and T-shirts. Unfortunately the wind was a bit light and shifty, allowing for constant place changing between Norbert (a new arrival owned jointly between Chris Brittain and Duncan Grindley, Caramba having sensibly retired to the warmer client of Cannes), Jerboa and Njord. Norbert managed to open up a bit of a lead coming in towards the (shortened) finish but Gavia Wilkinson-Cox in Jerboa picked up favourable tide and current on the Island shore right off Cowes to slip through from third to first while Chris and Duncan were trailing after the Island SC rib, which finally took up station to become the new finish mark, the Trinity House buoy having been lifted by the Trinity House maintenance boat during the race!

A delightful day's sailing was followed by a cream tea of scones laid on by the Island SC. This was the first of our new post racing teas and it was good to see everyone who was out on the water (along with a few who had not!) participating in the inevitable race post mortem.

Sunday morning provided a complete contrast in the weather with crews awaking to thunder and lightning. This cleared before racing was due to start but took what wind there was with it. After an hour and a half postponent and with a faint south-westerly arriving a decision was made to attempt the start. With Jerboa and Norbert almost becalmed at the shore end of the line, it was looking like the decision to start was a wrong one but Njord (two up with the Class Captain being put through his paces by the BDA chairman) who was slightly further out was quickly into the gently building breeze and pulled out on the others to lead comfortably at the first mark. On the downwind leg, Norbert took advantage of the breeze building from behind to close the gap but, as on Saturday, it was at the entrance to Cowes Harbour where the final positions were settled, this time with Norbert picking up the breeze first and going on to win with Njord holding onto second in front of Jerboa, who had managed to close into a couple of boat lengths at the second windward mark.

Well done to Norbert on winning the first weekend and to Duncan for his first race win on the helm. An enjoyable start to the season and next weekend is looking good too, being the first 'Champagne' weekend of the season and with the fitting out dinner at the RLYS on the Saturday night (if you have not already done so please let Rachel Grimshaw know asap if you are coming). Numbers out will also be up with Virago and Kedron joining the early season starters. With other regulars including Aimee, Cavalier and Supremacy (if Richard Cullen can remember where he left her!) out in the next few weeks and some of the less regular attendees and classics joining later on in the year it is looking like we could regularly have numbers of starters into double figures.

Looking forward to see more people out on the water in the coming weeks.

Best wishes
Ben Hancock
Solent Fleet Class Captain
E-mail solentclasscaptain@yahoo.com