A small but good looking fleet arrived at Shoreham SC on Saturday for the annual open meeting held at this fantastic sea venue.
Race one started with Horey & Diebitsch heading to the left with Iliffe & Nurse following them slightly behind and to windward. The rest of the fleet headed right and in shore led by local heroes Peter Bennett and Andy Philips. As it turned out heading inshore was not yet the right move and Horey & Diebitsch led around the windward mark followed by Iliffe and Nurse. Both boats opted for the gybe set and the rest of the fleet followed down the run.
The next beat saw Iliffe & Nurse show great speed and height over Horey & Diebitsch. However with some clever boat positioning Horey & Diebitsch defended well coming into the windward mark to retain the lead. Iliffe & Nurse were able to close the gap again down the last run but it was not possible to overtake. As the pair rounded the windward mark Horey & Diebitsch tacked to cover and the race ended in the same order with Peter and Andy coming in third.
Race 2 started with a pin end bias that the whole fleet were eagerly contesting.
Iliffe & Nurse headed out left again, whilst Peter and Andy led the fleet to the right with Horey & Diebitsch closely in second. Unlike the first race the right hand side paid. Peter and Andy led around the windward mark with Horey and Diebitsch hot on their heels. Iliffe & Nurse rounded DFL and set about the task of catching the fleet downwind which by the leeward mark they had. As the wind dropped at the leeward mark Horey and Diebitsch tacked onto starboard whilst Peter & Andy carried on to sniff out more breeze coming from the right on the course. Iliffe and Nurse benefited from being in third and were able to position themselves so that as the breeze hit the course they could sail up to and attack Peter & Andy’s transom before popping the kite and eventually rolling them on the now close reach to the windward mark. As the fleet processed eventually Horey & Diebitsch overcame Peter & Andy and were just within striking distance – they did so on the last downwind leg. Iliffe and Nurse gybe-set heading straight for the leeward mark in a breeze that would later fade whilst Horey and Diebitsch set the kite and sailed out to the right of the run holding on to what little wind there was – they ended up beating in to the leeward mark just ahead of Iliffe & Nurse who were forced to two sail reach in, helpless to do anything other than watch their lead dissolve in front of them.
Saturday night was spent in the Sussex Yacht club enjoying a wide range of rums (23 in total) at the Mods and Rockers themed night. We would like to thank the Yacht Club for their hospitality.
Sunday dawned and the competitors rose to 15-18knts of off shore breeze leaving the race course with big shifts, gusts, lulls and a flat sea state. Unlike Saturday the fleet opted to start at the committee boat end of the line. Horey & Diebitsch made a great start hitting the line as the gun went, two or three boat lengths from the committee boat along with the rest of the fleet, whilst Iliffe & Nurse started right on the committee boat about 5 -10 seconds late.
The fleet drag-raced up the first beat: Horey and Diebitsch kept good speed whilst Iliffe and Nurse worked the separation they had gained at the start. Both boats tacked onto port, Horey & Diebitsch to windward and just behind with Iliffe & Nurse to leeward and just in front. Iliffe and Nurse tacked for the lay line too early, a decision that would cost them an extra two tacks. It was a mistake that Horey & Diebitsch took full advantage of, hitting the lay line, hoisting the kite in a great band of pressure to maximize the distance gained. The places stayed the same for the rest of the race: Horey & Diebitsch loosely covering Iliffe & Nurse upwind; Iliffe & Nurse gaining distance downwind but ultimately unable to regain the distance lost early on. Peter & Andy finished third.
Race Four took place without Iliffe & Nurse after Mr Nurse had strained his neck, got all emotional about it and headed in (a little bit stoic in actual fact). The breeze moderated but Horey & Diebitsch’s reign of terror continued to see them take the fourth win of the weekend from Peter & Andy.
So it only remains to thank Shoreham SC for hosting us and running some great racing, to welcome Steve and Alex to the fleet, and to say that we hope to see you all at the Ovington Boats sponsored End of Season Championships at Bassenthwaite on the 18-19th October.