Sailing Events
SAILING PROGRAMME for 2008
Social Events
Social Programme 2008
Bar Opening Hours:
Wednesday 19.30-23.00
Friday 18.00-21.00
Sunday 12.00-15.00
Duty Man Roster
Your News & Views
Please send your stories, opinions and photos to the webeditor
16 Sept
Fast Cat News: Was it too windy?
Hi,
So everyone turned out to race, except Pieter, who I imagine was blown over the other side of the Pennines... As the Start time approached, we stood around shielding our eyes against the flying grit and debris in the car park, asking ourselves if this really was too windy. Rob and I were due to take Deelerium for a spin, and as he was the helm, I absolved myself of all responsibility and busied myself rigging the boat. We were basically done when everyone else arrived, and immediately took shelter... I don't know who started the rot, but Alex H and Mark E disappeared no sooner than they arrived, followed by Ian 'Heavy Weather' Kirk, and Graham passed in a flash. This left Rich to prop up the bar, Colin and a very gee'd up Mike gnashing at our ankles, and Rob who had obviously worked out I wasn't going to say 'no' but everyone with a brain had done. I offered Rob a ride on the Spitti, but (his) sanity prevailed. By now, we had seen the wind at all strengths from zephyr to strewth, and directions ranging from Chester to Hoylake. By this time though, the wind was at moderate levels, and although it wasn't clear which way you'd park the boat on the beach, it was no longer ridiculous, and the whistling in the rigging had definitely gone away. But could anyone trust it? James (OOD) announced he was going to the Ark, to make a decision from there, and figured he'd postpone for half an hour. Meanwhile ashore, indecision abounded. And Mike still gnashing at ankles... A quick tour of of the grounds showed that Simon M was taking his Dart, a Phantom was ready to go, and 'the boys - aka Michael and Cam' - were taking a Dart 16 come what may. I considered watching the sailing from the club, but was finally suckered by the patch of sunshine on the Welsh side of the estuary. So I let Rich finish a long and rambling account of gas supply problems (surely an oxymoron), then suggested we take a Spitti out... he was up for it, and given the choice opted for mine on the basis of reducing the financial burden to himself should the inevitable happen. He must have felt this quite strongly, since as we know, he could use the points (they're under your jib. When you find one, you'll find the other!). So, keen to make sure Colin & Mike didn't steal a march on us, the two helms had WT rigged in less time than it took for a loose monohull to be blown clear across the boat park. Down to the beach with Cam and Michael, and all appeared quite idyllic. According to James, the wind filled in at the moment WT hit the water. Perhaps the approaching wall of white caps should have given us a clue. Colin & Mike were already out though, so we weren't going to give in, were we? And by then, there was no sand left, so we were basically committed - or should have been. I'm not going to venture what sort of gusts came through, but let's give an indication: Richard could not clear the waves even when he shortened the trapeze to the minimum, the waves had built massively over the 'Moruzzi' sand bank, I was soaked with every 'landing', with the spray reaching the beach before the wind released its grip, and Richard was more than happy to throw himself across my lap to grip the rear beam as we bore away - he didn't actually lie down to pin me to the tramp as instructed, so we'll have to go back for that one. Yep, it was windy, but the RO had started a sequence and we had a course. Lots of reaching in it too - now, either James is sadistic, or the wind had changed again - this really wasn't one of those days when you begged for a long reach from 2 to 8, praying you could get the kite up and twin wire all the way! No, we didn't put the kite up. Richard only asked halfway along the downwind leg from 4 to 2, by which time it was hardly worth it... not that I fancied replacing it just yet. We had already seen Simon Moruzzi 'go down' - although we were not sure if they'd inverted or lost their mast. Anyway, we were already sailing dead downwind, and yet somehow had to gybe to round 2 and reach for 8. We noted too that Colin had finally got control of Mike and had sensibly parked up on the beach. All we could see was that there was no sand, so we decided to stick it out and just stay out there. To be honest, we nursed it round, rather than raced, but I think it would have amounted to the same thing - you could not go flat out and stay in control.
White Tiger's crew are soaked, but not alone! - Photo by James Douglas
Our course included a Line crossing mid-lap - who wasn't pleased to see the S flag at this point? I was. We hung around, more to stay under control than to see if there'd be another race. I wasn't relishing the thought of heading back to the beach while the wind remained square onshore. But the Abandoned flag went up, and that was it - we had to get to the beach. We planned our 'exit' and piled in to the beach with one rudder and both dagger boards raised found that it wasn't so bad after all - I've often found that in sailing in heavy weather - the worst aspect is the anticipation rather than what actually happens. Recovery was OK despite the wind - but we saw that Simon M had lost his mast and in the process had shredded his main as well. And they weren't even on the wire when it happened. It must have been a big gust!
So White Tiger won the race with 'a crew of rivals'... but we agreed to abandon the results - we'd gone out for the craick really, and who'd get them?!
Hopefully, it will be a little more moderate for the Club Championships in two weeks time - see you on the 30th. And maybe some practise on the 29th?
Simon
Tell us what you think - your comments, contributions and photos are very welcome.
Back to top
