Medway Yacht Club Cruiser Class Spring Series Race 5
by Jamie Blair 23 May 04:39 NZST
19 May 2024
In strong sunshine with a light, fluky NE breeze and an initially rising tide, the last race of the series was set to take the fleet up the river with the tide to buoy 34 and then down with the tide around buoys 31 & 30 and a finish at buoy 29. The seemingly short course was to ensure everyone finished. Start time was 10.00 with all yachts racing in one class.
Tide was gently flooding with High tide at 10:50 and the tidal range was 25% of the spring tide range with mean neap being 0% and mean springs 100%. The wind forecast was 6 knots from the North East, which kept things interesting at the start as everyone tried to hover near the line and not get swept over. The Race Hut reported being kept on full alert as Chips deftly nudged towards, but crucially not over, as we got under way. Apparently, others were not so adroit and were a bit further back.
The route upriver was a change from the normal downriver races with wind direction being channelled somewhat in the narrower more built up reach towards Chathem. We took in the sights sailing past Chatham Dockyard and Gun Wharf. The tide occasionally outpacing the wind to spoil the set of the spinnakers. Several groups formed: Chips and Aquila (Jo Bolton) out in front and changing places in the beat up to buoy 34. Zephyros and Brigand battling along, and Toucan, Tattarat, Freya and Ruby Tuesday pursuing.
The turn at 34 brought a long stretch downriver when it felt like big gains and losses occurred as the breeze occasionally rose to lift us along - up to 10kts at one point - but equally dribbled away leaving us contemplating the many dinghies also out enjoying the river. Once back across the start line and in Cookham Reach but keeping to the south shore to pick up the better breeze below MYC. Buoy 31 at the east end of Cookham Reach is on the north side of the river. So fickle was the wind Aquila overtook Chips using a favourable lift that Chips never saw and with a bear away to buoy 30 it was line astern for this leg. A short beat to buoy 29 and the finish.
Then it was back to the Club in time for a short prize presentation for the Series. The overall prize went to Robbie Stewart and team, racing Chips (Scamp1 30).
There followed an excellent lunch and a chance to thank Richard Fernandes, Philip Clarabut (RO) and Tim French who have made the start to 2024 cruiser racing highly enjoyable.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat | Class | Sail No | Club | Helm | Rating | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Chips | Scampi 30 | 3484 | MYC | Rob Stewart | 979 | ‑1 | 1 | (DNS) | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | Zephyros | Dehler 34 | 9746 | MYC | Tim French | 923 | ‑4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ‑5 | 5 |
| 3rd | Aquila | Elan 33 | 9410 | MYC | Joe Bolton | 904 | ‑3 | 3 | 3 | ‑4 | 2 | 8 |
| 4th | Brigand | Robber 3E | 44 | MYC | Keith Lennox | 1053 | 2 | (DNS) | (DNS) | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 5th | Mercury | Swan 42 | 962 | MYC | Ross Eldred | 772 | 5 | 4 | 2 | (DNS) | (DNS) | 11 |
| 6th | Toucan | First 31.7 | 1598 | MYC | Richard Leeming | 902 | ‑6 | ‑6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
| 7th | Freya | Bavaria 34 | 4397 | MYC | Steve Smith | 924 | (DNS) | (DNS) | 5 | 6 | RET | 19 |
| 8th | Ruby Tuesday | Hanse 320 | TBA1 | GYC | Michael Wood | 958 | 7 | 5 | (DNS) | (DNS) | 7 | 19 |
| 9th | Tattarat | Nordic Folkboat | 758 | MYC | Duncan Thomson | 1086 | (DNS) | (DNS) | DNS | RET | 4 | 22 |
| 10th | Irene | Dufour 34 | 2240 | MYC | Steve Treadwell | 928 | (DNS) | (DNS) | DNS | DNS | DNS | 33 |
The yachts are looking ahead to the major event for Medway Yacht Club - the Medway Regatta.
12th, 13th and 14th July 2024. This event is for Cruisers (racing YTC and IRC), Dragons, Squibs and Sonatas.
Details can be found at www.medwayyachtclub.com/racing/keelboat-regatta
The Cruiser Class and Medway Yacht Club are looking forward to hosting and welcoming members and visitors to the 2024 Holdfast Medway Yacht Club Keelboat Regatta. We would like to see as many boats as possible over the Regatta weekend, enjoying the sailing on our wonderful River Medway and joining in with the onshore festivities.