Week 1 -11/05/24

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With 18 entered in the experienced fleet and 9 in the relaxed fleet 23 boats were milling around the start line at the Haven Ports start line with "Blond dictator" Claire (you want the course again?!) in charge in the race hut.

Cumara desperate to get back to Harwich were on course side at the start with Blue Jay leading Apex to the Collimer, first mark.

Lovely weather blue skies and a decent breeze saw the 2 fleets split at Harwich with the relaxed fleet off down the Stour with a challenging beat back to Shotley Horse against the tide, and the experienced fleet headed out to sea. The River was nicer!

The spectacle was lessened by the fog and reliance on the chart plotter to get to the marks was essential.

Those that had seen the light winds forecast and only had 3 or 4 crew, soon found out there was 15 plus knots at sea.

Participants that had chosen the shorts option and creamed up were sadly disappointed and were soon putting on extra layers.

So, little to report when you cant see anything!! At one stage a ghost ship sailing under only main was seen. I guess this was to help with visibility. Looked like Xstatic, but could have been anyone.

Then the relief as a return to the Orwell saw blue skies and sun for the final leg up to the finish line as crew returned to their G strings and crop tops and got the cream out again.

Apex finished off top of the pile continuing on from last season. Well done to them. In the relaxed fleet some brilliant sailing by the youngest sailor out there gave Pindara the honours.

Thank you to Haven Ports for hosting and a big thank you to the committee for the impressive communication with race results out before the second pint.

A great start to the series.

Oostende next on May 24th. Get your entries in!

 

Fishy Fingers out

 

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Fishy Fingers looks forward to the Haven Combined Clubs Series

 

Well, the sailing season is upon us and the first race of the HCCS takes place on May 11th. Seems only last week we had the excellent prize giving at W&FYC.

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   •Will the X332’s continue to dominate?

   •With Taika being sold, which boat will Messrs.’ Duncan, Bell and Weller enter this year and has it a big enough

     fridge?

    •Has Jonathan Penn recovered from his football injury?

    •Will the Haven Ports YC sharpen up the sword for yet another year?

 

These and many other questions will be answered next month. A great local series of competitive but fairly sailed racing for the experienced fleet and a chance to have a purpose for the day for the relaxed fleet.

 

The relaxed fleet is a great opportunity to gently introduce yourself to yacht racing. The starts are incredibly relaxed with crossing the line after the start gun having to be measured in cups of tea drunk rather than seconds.

 

How many times have you left the marina with no idea where to sail for the day. Join the relaxed fleet and get given a course. Its fun, tests your navigation and sailing skills without the stress of competitive racing.

 

The experienced fleet have a long list of experienced racers. Some times it gets a bit noisy at starts and mark rounding’s as rules interpretations are shared between boats, but there is a friendliness that you don’t get on the South Coast. The racing area is great. What’s not to like.

 

The first of four passage races is to Oostende on May 24th. Get your passport organised, pirate outfits dusted down and give the Belgians the benefit of our company.

 

Start buffing up your GPS and get your entry in…. The website is up and running and awaiting your visit.

 

F.F.