Poole Redwing sailors visit Bembridge Sailing Club
by Mike Samuelson 7 Sep 2020 12:03 UTC
5-6 September 2020
Last year a number of Redwing members went to Poole to race in the Poole Redwings, so this weekend five members from Poole came to race in our Redwings. Conditions on Saturday were almost perfect with a few clouds to hide
the sun occasionally but mostly sunny and a F3 to F4 WNW'erly breeze. With each visitor helming one of the Redwings it was decided to try to get 5 races in over the two days, 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday with helms swapping
over after each race on Saturday.
The five boats racing were Snow Goose (with Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore as crew), Blue Jay (with Crispin Kenyon), Harlequin (with John Raymond), Red Gauntlet II (with Annie and Joe Robertson) and Plover (with Andrew Eddy
and Willie Clegg). Additionally, on Saturday Musicus, with David McCue, Nick Woolgar and Martyn Davis each helming a race decided to come out as well and won all three races; although it was agreed that they would not count,
David was presented with a Redwing glass to recognise his efforts.
Transfers on Saturday were carried out by the Class Captain Richard Jessel in his RIB. The course for the first race, with a line at Spy Alarms, was Garland, Tara,
finish (took 30 minutes and they had asked for 3x30 minute races!). The order of finish (other than Musicus) was Red Gauntlet II, Plover, Harlequin, Snow Goose, Blue Jay. The second race was very similar but going to Nainby
instead of Garland - where the order of finish was Snow Goose, Harlequin, Red Gauntlet II, Blue Jay, Plover. The third race was Nainby, Spy Alarms, finish at Pepe and the order was Blue Jay, Red Gauntlet II, Harlequin, Red Gauntlet II,
Plover. Ignoring Musicus, Tory Barlow won the first race and Malcolm Bentley won the second two.
Five One-Designs meanwhile also had three good races following the same courses as the Redwings. In the first race Charles Abel Smith in No 7 got away at the start and was never caught; he was followed home by Jos Coad in No 8, Susie Beart in No 5, Charles Evans in No 10 and Simon Allocca in No 1.
In the second race Russ Fowler, taking the helm of 1, was off to a flyer leading at the first mark and extending his lead to the finish; he was followed home by Charles Abel Smith who read the wind shifts accurately making up several places to finish second on the final beat. Susie Beart, Charles Evans and Jos Coad followed them home.
In the third race there were only four starters, Charles Evans having gone home. Jos Coad in No 8 got away and was never caught, being followed home by Susie Beart, Charles Abel Smith and Simon Allocca who had taken back the helm of No 1. Simon had interfered with No 7 shortly after the start and doing his penalty effectively took away any chance he had. Perfect conditions for some lovely sailing, much enjoyed by all.
On Sunday, Musicus was replaced by Colin Samuelson and family in Toucan as the 'non-scoring' boat. Although two races were achieved, the first was not very far as the gentle ENE'erly breeze dropped away almost to nothing and
the race was shortened to two legs. Harlequin was first, Toucan (no-scoring) was second, Snow Goose was third, Red Gauntlet II was fourth, then Plover and Blue Jay. Fortunately it came back in and both fleets then had an excellent
second race. Although the second race was won by Toucan, Red Gauntlet II very nearly caught them on the final beat from Janson to Pepe; third across the line was Plover, then Harlequin, Snow Goose and Blue Jay.
The five One-Designs just had one race which was won by Peter Summerhayes in No 8; Simon Allocca was a close second with Charles Evans in No 10, third ahead of Charles Abel Smith in No 7 and William Bland in No 12.
Although no racing next weekend because of the difficult tides, there may well be a race on Friday late afternoon/early evening.