Long Distance Race 1st August Report

Published 07:06 on 6 Aug 2021

Sunday

This is the first report for a while for which I apologise; various reasons for not sailing have cropped up, or at least not writing about it. I'm much sorrier though that the redoubtable Chris Burke, co-writer and crazy maverick on the water, has been side-lined, thus temporarily depriving WSC of a rather more reliable raconteur of on-water sailing activities.

The augurs for a cracking Long Distance race were good; various eviscerated sheep and monkey entrails revealed a likelihood of Force 4-5 South Westerlies, and they were not wrong.. Even the threatened rain (largely) stayed away.

The two set-courses had a short windward leg from WSC to roughly the Sea Lane Cafe, with the cats then downwinding* nearly as far as the pier (where I lost my hat) and monos about as far as the Burlington. I think.

There was a good sea running, increasingly impressive waves forming nice ramps for surfing down, and making trapezing crews feel a little cagy about fully extending on the beats.

But hard work for the monos, who were a select 6 boats (at least signing on), with Andy Ruffer triumphering* in a laser1, and Daniel Clifford runnerupping*, in a club pico with training sail putting George Schlich to absolute abysmal shame. But of course I cast no aspersions. The Rawlings pair in the 49'er put on a demonstration of classy sailing**, but this was purely exhibition stuff, and not for competitive purposes.

Indeed, for the fleet in general there was an impressive amount of DNF's. For example, the two leading D18's got stymied by having to choose between WSC Long Distance race glory,,by doing a 4th lap, and keeping warm by finishing early. They were right on the cusp of finishing Lap 3 a little quicker than the desired 90 min LD duration and the stern but fair Chris Halfknight sent them round again, or tried to. Astonishingly, Rob/Fi, and Caleb/Chloe choose home comfort in preference to podiuming*.

It was a good turn-out in the cat section - with 8 different classes over 24 boats. Chief beneficiary of the lack of moral fibre element of our leading D18 sailors were Debs/Barry, who were able to gold* rather than bronze*, and Riccardo who silvered*. and sailing single-handed too, no mean feat in those seas - as did Matt Cooper and Gilbert. Pete Roberts/Andy Jolly thirded*.

But the award of the day goes to Caleb who found and returned my hat - what are the chances of that eh?

The fleet intermingling with bug week this Sunday. 14:00 on the start-line. Harbingering* (forecast wise) not allowed.

* you may not think that these are not proper words, and/or usages - however they are perfectly justified. But only when Olympiading.

**this term might also be factually dubious

Patrick