Skerries Race. Cruisers Report.
Published 21:06 on 13 Aug 2023
It seemed such a good plan. The postponement of the Skerries Race earlier in the season meant that a one day Cruiser Regatta on the Saturday between Town and Yacht Club Regattas could be converted to a weekend of varied racing. Added to this was a last minute booking of the BBQ at Port Waterhouse on the Saturday evening. Although fully booked indoors, there would be plenty of room for everyone at outdoor tables on a warm balmy evening. What could possibly go wrong?
The answer of course was the weather. Horrific winds, which prevented the traditional transfer of trollies to Mill Bay prior to Dinghy Regatta racing, also put paid to racing in the Range for the Cruisers. In addition, those same winds meant a maximum of twenty could be accommodated indoors at Port Waterhouse as they had so many other advance bookings.
Fortunately, the Skerries Race the next day lived up to expectations. Its a simple course. Start between middle and west speed buoys at the harbour entrance. Leave the Skerries buoy to port and finish within a mile of Prawle Point on a line due south of the flag pole.
Six boats joined the fray. The largest, Ganesha, the 52 Amel Super Maramu of Crispin Waterhouse, avoided the potential line skirmish by arriving 17 minutes later than the published start time of 10.00. A self-inflicted handicap they worked hard to overcome. Next largest was the 47 Boreal TinTin helmed by Rob Withers. Charles and Lorna Cameron were aboard their Maxi 1100 China Blue and Peter Sandover and Jane Knight their Dufour 365 Ardea. Peter was also Race Office and did as excellent a job as ever getting us away. Communicating on Channel 72, his count down and start gun impression are always a joy. Smallest boat on the line was St. Anthony, the Javelin 30 of the seasoned Peter Waring. Completing the line up was Moody S31 Mulberry, sailed singlehandedly by Graham Nurser.
In the event an accommodating Race Officer delayed the start to 10.10 to allow almost everyone the chance to settle themselves. As the slowest boat, St. Anthony was given the option to start earlier. Availing himself of the opportunity, Peter started at 10.05. He was accompanied by Graham who, as a single hander was pleased to avoid anything too tactical.
The broad reach to Start Point was a joy. The NW Force 3 running with the flowing tide presented a gentle sea. Sailing outside St Anthony, Mulberry quickly built up a lead and enjoyed a false sense of elation having started five minutes ahead of the other boats. In fact Mulberry did make good speed and it was not until she was well across Start Bay that first China Blue overtook on the inside followed by TinTin on the outside. By the time she reached the buoy itself Ardea was pressing hard and a much tidier tack took her ahead for the return journey.
With wind on the beam across Start Bay, the return leg to the lighthouse was equally pleasant for Mulberry, crossing both St Anthony and Ganesha as they brought up the rear. However, as so often, everything changed at Start Point. From there on in, the wind was on the nose and the ebbing tide produced an unpleasant chop. Mulberry found tacking difficult, missing four in a row and the dependable St.Anthony took the opportunity to forge ahead. Ganshea was also finding her legs and passed Mulberry at Lanacombe. I suspect everyone was pleased to pass Prowl Point with a difficult sea and rising wind. With the race over, all that was left was a lovely close hauled ride across the Range and the motor through the Yawl Fleet as they made their way up the Bag.
~ G.Nurser.
