eastcoastbernie
Well-Known Member
When three skippers and one crew meet up in the Lightship on a Saturday night with no particular plans for the following day anything could happen.
After a jar or two (and some quite nice nosh too) it was decided that a 50 footer (Croix des Gardes) and a 40 something footer (Cayenne) should race a 25 footer (Beyond Reason) on a course out to Roughs Towers and back.
The rules were discussed at length. Our racing pennant would be a red ensign. We could carry any sails we fancied. The start line would be from Languard at 10.00 precisely when Languard bore 90 degrees. Time and bearing to be taken from gps. Course would be South Cork to Roughs Towers to Cork Yacht Beacon to Languard. All marks to port. Entrants to take their own time at finish line.
Croix des Gardes and Beyond Reason were lined up at Languard at the appointed hour but Cayenne was obviously not going to make it in time, so after a quick 3-way VHF on channel 77, we agreed to postpone the start to 10.10 to give Cayenne a chance to get to the line in time.
I should point out that Beyond Reason was the only two-handed vessel and even with two hands it was difficult to judge a perfect start when Languard bore exactly 90 degrees at precisely 10.00, but we think we managed it and were told later that the others just copied us, so you can take it to be a perfectly judged start by all competitors.
The leg from Languard to South Cork was a dead run. Pyro was soon in the lead with yankee, staysail and main, Beyond Reason hot on his heels with mainsail and poled-out genoa, and Cayenne a little behind main and headsail. Sun was shining and boats were moving well and everybody happy.
Beyond Reason had to drop the pole before hardening up at South Cork which cost a little time and Pyro moved ahead. The leg from South Cork to Roughs Towers was a broad reach but rather windier than anticipated and Beyond Reason's crew questioned their decision to keep the genoa. Cayenne overtook looking very much more comfortable.
On Beyond Reason the combination of rather too much weather helm and a large concrete structure coming closer and closer was becoming slightly alarming. The crew decided to hank off the genoa and hank on the working jib for the next leg which was anticipated to be a beat. This was executed on the broad reach before Roughs Towers and cost us dearly time-wise but was thought to be the right decision as headsail changes on a bouncy beat are not much fun.
Roughs Towers was rounded in this order: 1. CdG, 2 Cayenne, 3 BR. The cross tide was really strong and the wind had swung around which effectively robbed Beyond Reason of the beat she was hoping for. We had rigged the working jib and we could have kept the genoa. We watched C d G and Cayenne get further and further away. After passing Cork Yacht Beacon, and with the wind dropping, we decided to drop the working jib and hoist the genoa again. We weren't going to catch the others up, but we might as well attempt to finish with some style.
We heard Pyro and Keith talking on the VHF confirming one another's finish times, then they called us up to ask how we were doing. 'Can't see Languard yet, but I can see the red channel marker which I think is the one before Languard'. Cayenne and CdG were waiting at the finish line and each of them gave Beyond Reason a hoot.
Great day's sailing, great fun. Pyro is still trying to work out the result, but thinks the corrected time according to handicap puts us in order of waterline length with about 2 minutes between us, ie. CdG first, Cayenne 2nd and BR third. We're thinking of making it an annual event. Not sure what we will call it yet.
Keith took some pix and a video which I hope he will post
After a jar or two (and some quite nice nosh too) it was decided that a 50 footer (Croix des Gardes) and a 40 something footer (Cayenne) should race a 25 footer (Beyond Reason) on a course out to Roughs Towers and back.
The rules were discussed at length. Our racing pennant would be a red ensign. We could carry any sails we fancied. The start line would be from Languard at 10.00 precisely when Languard bore 90 degrees. Time and bearing to be taken from gps. Course would be South Cork to Roughs Towers to Cork Yacht Beacon to Languard. All marks to port. Entrants to take their own time at finish line.
Croix des Gardes and Beyond Reason were lined up at Languard at the appointed hour but Cayenne was obviously not going to make it in time, so after a quick 3-way VHF on channel 77, we agreed to postpone the start to 10.10 to give Cayenne a chance to get to the line in time.
I should point out that Beyond Reason was the only two-handed vessel and even with two hands it was difficult to judge a perfect start when Languard bore exactly 90 degrees at precisely 10.00, but we think we managed it and were told later that the others just copied us, so you can take it to be a perfectly judged start by all competitors.
The leg from Languard to South Cork was a dead run. Pyro was soon in the lead with yankee, staysail and main, Beyond Reason hot on his heels with mainsail and poled-out genoa, and Cayenne a little behind main and headsail. Sun was shining and boats were moving well and everybody happy.
Beyond Reason had to drop the pole before hardening up at South Cork which cost a little time and Pyro moved ahead. The leg from South Cork to Roughs Towers was a broad reach but rather windier than anticipated and Beyond Reason's crew questioned their decision to keep the genoa. Cayenne overtook looking very much more comfortable.
On Beyond Reason the combination of rather too much weather helm and a large concrete structure coming closer and closer was becoming slightly alarming. The crew decided to hank off the genoa and hank on the working jib for the next leg which was anticipated to be a beat. This was executed on the broad reach before Roughs Towers and cost us dearly time-wise but was thought to be the right decision as headsail changes on a bouncy beat are not much fun.
Roughs Towers was rounded in this order: 1. CdG, 2 Cayenne, 3 BR. The cross tide was really strong and the wind had swung around which effectively robbed Beyond Reason of the beat she was hoping for. We had rigged the working jib and we could have kept the genoa. We watched C d G and Cayenne get further and further away. After passing Cork Yacht Beacon, and with the wind dropping, we decided to drop the working jib and hoist the genoa again. We weren't going to catch the others up, but we might as well attempt to finish with some style.
We heard Pyro and Keith talking on the VHF confirming one another's finish times, then they called us up to ask how we were doing. 'Can't see Languard yet, but I can see the red channel marker which I think is the one before Languard'. Cayenne and CdG were waiting at the finish line and each of them gave Beyond Reason a hoot.
Great day's sailing, great fun. Pyro is still trying to work out the result, but thinks the corrected time according to handicap puts us in order of waterline length with about 2 minutes between us, ie. CdG first, Cayenne 2nd and BR third. We're thinking of making it an annual event. Not sure what we will call it yet.
Keith took some pix and a video which I hope he will post
XXX
