longjohnsilver
Well-known member
We had the Exe regatta last weekend and I was told I was committee boat for the cruiser racing. Great thort I, sitting around at anchor all day raising and lowering flags when I should be diving.
So showed up at 8-30 on Saturdaty morning, 16 entries, not so bad, should even be slightly interesting. Out to the start for 10-30, the regatta committee insisted race be started off the sea front for all the spectators to get a good view. Also had the lifeboat to fire a maroon for the actual start. Wow, think the bang woke up a tramp on the park bench, a couple of seagulls squawked and one or two joggers stared disinterestedly as a whole 7 boat fleet set off.
Well I say 7, it could have been 9, but we weren't sure. One cruiser skipper who wasn't racing swore at us for being in the way, he only had about a gap of 50 yards or more on the other side of the faiway!! Anyway, of the 7, 4 raced the wrong way round the course and we had a gap of about 40 minutes between first and second, with another couple of hours for the third boat. All of this in a lovely Easterly slop.
Second race saw I think 5 boats start with 3 finishers, same first and second with same time gap. Exciting racing!
Sunday morning was better cos i had a few drinks the nite before to get over the excitement and we had 4 starters, same first and second as 2 previous races and 2 retirees.
Is cruiser racing always this riveting or should I be cutting my lawn next time I'm asked to be committee boat? And is it usual for over half the entrants not to turn up?
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So showed up at 8-30 on Saturdaty morning, 16 entries, not so bad, should even be slightly interesting. Out to the start for 10-30, the regatta committee insisted race be started off the sea front for all the spectators to get a good view. Also had the lifeboat to fire a maroon for the actual start. Wow, think the bang woke up a tramp on the park bench, a couple of seagulls squawked and one or two joggers stared disinterestedly as a whole 7 boat fleet set off.
Well I say 7, it could have been 9, but we weren't sure. One cruiser skipper who wasn't racing swore at us for being in the way, he only had about a gap of 50 yards or more on the other side of the faiway!! Anyway, of the 7, 4 raced the wrong way round the course and we had a gap of about 40 minutes between first and second, with another couple of hours for the third boat. All of this in a lovely Easterly slop.
Second race saw I think 5 boats start with 3 finishers, same first and second with same time gap. Exciting racing!
Sunday morning was better cos i had a few drinks the nite before to get over the excitement and we had 4 starters, same first and second as 2 previous races and 2 retirees.
Is cruiser racing always this riveting or should I be cutting my lawn next time I'm asked to be committee boat? And is it usual for over half the entrants not to turn up?
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