Tuesday, 3 August 2010

RN4: Line Honours in a class of two

I was a little shocked this weekend at the drop in fleet numbers - is it something to do with people leaving Hong Kong for August? Cowes Week? The forecast light wind? Whatever it was, we went from a fleet of eight Magics to a fleet of two.

However, it was still a fantastic couple of races. We (I) decided to go out early to check out where the wind was, and ended up about 30 mins early for the start... I'll factor that in next time. Promise. We determined that there were major wind variations as you moved north of Port Shelter Island, and decided that going right would pay.

Wind and marks in Port Shelter before the start of the first race
The race committee put the windward in underneath the island, but we stuck with our original plan and got a boat end start (at the second attempt!). Tacked off to starboard along with only three other boats and gained a lot on the first two thirds of the beat. However, with the mark so sheltered, the top third was very difficult and we ended up completely out of phase with the shifts. Rounded behind Steve on Merlin by about a minute and the gap stayed for the rest of the race.

Second race - similar strategy, much better start (first rank, and held until there was clear air to tack off), and just in front of Merlin at the top mark.The run was close, with Merlin just to leeward and able to get inside at the first leeward mark. We let him in, went wide, and were able to do a great gybe/drop and nip in inside them coming out of the rounding. From there it was as if we were match racing - covering tacks, and not letting him get away! We were helped by Frank (another Magic sailor, but driving a big boat) being happy to let us play silly buggers and keep out of our way...


After a momentary panic as we got a wrap on our final gybe to the line, we crossed for our first race win! It was a shame that only two were out, but I got plenty of chat from the race officer at the prize giving, as well as some shiny flags and a t-shirt. A good weekend's sailing!
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous4 August 2010 at 01:24:00 GMT+8

    wow, now i see what you meant line honour, beating your crew Dad, lovely! 2 magic match racing hard in between big ones... & you meant you mainly used the right side both starts to do upwind?? was it paid??

    seems all bigger boats using left side to upwind but my boat did catch them as we chose the right side first race...

    no good to follow any leader is usual my preference, not until the same size same rating then we stick, yes?

    & David, u meant u gybe & wrap?? was it on downwind right side course?? 2nd race 1st leg finishing??

    if yes, it's real light & real deadrun for us too... well, good training for my brand brand new chi foredeck... such a huge different for being mast & foredeck, absolute unbelieveably hard to train...

    lastly if i show you my gps, your wind arrows & upmark should swing 15 to 20 degree clockwise, as the mark was not that close to the 'tail' of the 'cow tail island' = chi name of the port shelter island, correct??

    if not, then even my 37footer will be on ground, & so would the 52footer too... cheerscy

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