Cherubs at the Rutland Skiff Open 2023
by Alex Harris & Jamie Pearson 12 Mar 2023 05:07 NZDT
4-5 March 2023
Four Cherubs descended on Rutland for their annual asymmetric open and round one of the Cherub travellers' trophy during the first weekend in March, that's quite early in the year, it could be quite cold? Greeted by wind touching 10 knots at times boats were rigged and breakfast consumed, and the consensus of capsizing will end your day, would this be a race of pace or attrition?
Rigging up, post breakfast cake (the second breakfast of champions), Jamie got the Race kite out of the bag and found a big rip Martyn put in it at Sheppey, but Jamie had forgotten about and not taped/sewn up. To quote Martyn and Jamie 'looks like we're running the training kite, mate' 'It'll be like bringing a spoon to a knife fight!'
Race one Light winds, single string weather, and 7 knots, began with the quicker boats swamping the cherubs off the line, feeling under hulled until finding a lane was definitely the feeling! Poppy missed the start thinking it was one minute later (When will Jamie learn) but cheeky port/starboard with Ronin left them doing turns on the first beat. Foiling in these conditions was occasionally possible which gave the advantage to the boats with big spinnakers; Marmite made the most sense of the lake conditions and brought home race one with A&E flying just long enough for a second place ahead of Poppy and Ronin.
Second race began with a bit more breeze, twin trap upwind, 10 - 14 knots; Building breeze never disappoints the green machine who took the opportunity to put another win on the board. Poppy managed to find a MASSIVE hole of no wind on the first beat allowing Ronin through, but some downwind gybing wizardry allowed Poppy to sneak in to 2nd again to the delight of all cherub sailors. A&E discovered that dropping the mainsheet when foiling is not the best way to sail. Sneaking in third ahead of Ronin in fourth, the final 2 boats both having capsizes meant they decided shore and warmth was more useful than a third race!
Race three was slightly breezier and twin trapezing upwind; Poppy having a bit of a fight with marmite was just what the doctor ordered! Exciting for these idiots to be hot on the heels of Mr Croote and Mr W! Poppy had a fun moment when they had three 4000's line abreast all pinching to try and cover off from one another. Jamie lit the blue tough paper and hooked on to join Martyn on the wing, a few twists of 'tfoil off' and Poppy put the hammer down and they managed to create a dirty great wind shadow for all three, a textbook gybe to the finish and across the line. Marmite again taking the win from Poppy.
Upon arriving on shore, Team Poppy was collared by a youth sailor wanting to have a go in a 12ft silly skiff and was keen to borrow the class boat - Antidote to panel games, when possible. A quick jaunt around the lake in 12-ish knots was enough to see him smile, but Jamie had to call it quits, something about brass monkeys.
Evening fun - The food was excellent, new caterers and bar combo is ace. They stayed open until we went to bed (this meant we broke their previous 1 day takings!).
After extending an olive branch to the two 4000 sailors and two B14 sailors, we all told tales about our days sailing then teamed up with the 800s after their training debrief for a spot of beer pong!
The semi finals were interesting when one of the balls suddenly became a pickled egg! Needless to say the final was an all cherub affair! It turns out that cherub sailors are also quite adept in a beer pong tournament!! (Thank you to the 800 class for organising!)
With a second day of sailing feeling very similar to the first the fleets race four and Poppy found they didn't have a watch so had to freestyle the starts! Wind was particularly tricky with it being light and wind bend from the shores on either side of the beat. Marmite found themselves locked out at the committee boat at the start. Poppy and marmite headed out front with A&E and Ronin fighting out in, what looked to be a close battle!
Race 5 and Marmite went up the wrong side of the beat on lap 1, meaning Poppy was somehow out in front, the wind was building and lap 2 she knew it would be a tight affair to the finish. On the final downwind after keeping an eye on the green kite (Marmite) Jamie had to inform Martyn of 'Bogey, single, blue, approaching fast from behind!' A&E was up and flying for their last dash to the line. To create some options Poppy gybed off leaving Marmite on the other side. A&E and Marmite gybed later on. With Poppy coming in to the gate on starboard, and Marmite on port forced to gybe before the gate. Poppy gybed back to round the gate and sprint to the line, Somehow Marmite managed to sail through the dirty air of Poppy and claim second with A&E having sailed round the outside of them all.
Race 6, well it happened, but with second wrapped up and getting cold, Poppy decided the showers were a much nicer place to be than possibly anywhere in the world at that moment.
Congratulations go to Paul and Andy on Marmite for wrapping up the opening event of the year and props go to Nathan and Jimmy in Ronin for braving an early March weekend as a dusting off of cobwebs with a new pairing on board, thanks also go to Rutland for hosting us as well as keeping us warm and fed!!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | Rating | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Marmite | 3212 | Paul Croote | Andrew Whapshott | Hawley Lake Sailing Club | 890 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (2) | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | Poppy | 3216 | Jamie Pearson | Martyn Denchfield | Grafham Water Sailing Club | 890 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | (DNC) | 12 |
| 3 | A & E (foiling) | 3215 | Jonny OConnor | Alex Harris | Dee Sailing Club | 800 | 2 | 3 | (DNC) | 3 | 1 | DNC | 14 |
| 4 | Ronin | 2698 | Jimmy Ruddiman | Nathan McGrory | Poole Yacht Club | 890 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | (DNC) | DNC | 20 |