Even though the regatta didn’t start until Saturday lunchtime, a number of boats were already at Cantley on Friday evening, where proceedings kicked off with pre prandial Prosecco on Retribution; nominally for the crew of Vixen to celebrate their race wins at Rockland (any excuse) but of course it turned into an invitation towards all present. After a break for eating, we then all reconvened in the pub, but many retired early. Modwena, by contrast, turned up after 11 o’clock.
After a morning of idleness and pottering about, we were fully briefed by race officer Nigel at one o’clock. This took place in the pub, as it was now raining. Again. Persuasion from those present led to the start being slightly delayed in the hope that the rain would pass by then. It didn’t. And it was windy. Again.
A long course was set, with the slower boats setting off first, led by Vixen who was again proving she likes a strong blow (unlike the crew, who feel their arms are getting longer and longer by the race). Having tacked against the tide to a buoy at Hassingham, it was then a run back to the factory, a reach to the bottom mark just below Hardley Mill, then back uphill to a buoy near Langley Dyke before returning to the finish at Cantley.
This made for a long and tiring race and there was a certain amount of attrition, with Wandering Rose retiring hurt before the start with a broken gaff, the crew of Morning Calm deliberately going into the reeds to retire and Pan unintentionally going into the reeds to such an extent that extracting them proved a lengthy exercise, involving not only the club dory, but a passing ranger.
Flight finished the race, but with a snapped parrel line, the crosstrees detached from the mast, the jib downhaul jammed where it shouldn’t have been and (worst of all) two of Eve’s best plates broken into several pieces. Despite this calamity, she still came third, with Vixen, winning despite the main downhaul undoing itself early in the race, coming in just 30 seconds ahead of Sabrina 2.
However, all were grateful that the last finishers were already mooring up when a humongous squall barrelled down the reach with ferocious winds, heavy rain and hail. It was so strong that Flight, just motoring onto the mooring was stopped in her tracks. Thank goodness it didn’t hit when the racing fleet was running down Cantley Reach to the finish, just 10 or 15 minutes earlier, or there would undoubtedly have been damage. After that, the only thing to do was beat a hasty retreat to the pub.
After recuperating from the rigours of the day, a good number enjoyed a meal and the company in the pub before there was again a relatively early exodus to bed.
Sunday dawned sunny, but there was much consulting of forecasts, debate as to just how windy it would get and discussion on the odds of being hit by a thunderstorm. Much pessimism, given the weather we’ve already had for our events this year.
However, in the event, it was merely a fresh breeze for the race and it stayed dry as the fleet set off upriver to a mark near Langley Dyke, down to one just before Hardley Mill, back up to the line and repeat twice. Again, with the slower boats going first, Vixen led the way round, just being pipped for line honours by Melinda, who crossed seven seconds in front.
Pan had a prudent reef in, which meant they finished this time, but at the back. Wandering Rose, cautious with their repaired gaff, had also reefed, in what turned out to be the lightest winds of the weekend. All the reefs came out in the afternoon, which may not have been a good decision for some. Vixen won by 47 seconds from Morning Calm, with Sabrina 2 a further minute behind.
At lunchtime the wind dropped right out, just beginning to pick up again as the fleet hoisted sail for the third and final race. It built up rapidly to the point where the starts became quite lively and alarming, but all set off without incident. Just a lot of shouting. Vixen had to work a bit harder to get to the front this time, with Pan making a good start and keeping pace for a while. A long close haul against the bank for Vixen eventually opened up a gap between her and the fleet and this time she did take line honours again.
A similar course to the morning had been set, except with the top buoy brought down slightly and the bottom mark now by the factory. The wind built and shifted as the race proceeded, becoming a close haul in the upper reaches and a broad reach going back downriver. Morning Calm again decided they were not enjoying themselves and bailed out, but the rest of the fleet remained intact until the squall hit. Those close-hauling uphill hung on; those going the other way feared for their rigs, with Tinkerbell hastily retiring as the entire rig went horribly slack and Flight taking a huge broach, with water halfway up the aft deck, before also rapidly dropping the lot and stopping.
Although Vixen took line honours again, Pan clearly revelled in the reaching conditions and came home to win from Vixen by over a minute. Sabrina 2 was a couple of minutes behind again in third. With two wins, Vixen took the Sparklet Trophy for overall winner; Sabrina 2 being second with a 2nd and 3rd. Tinkerbell, with two 4th places was third. Although it was so low key that it never got mentioned (largely as the physical trophy doesn’t yet exist) Pan took the new Vixen Trophy for overall “slow” boat, defined as 10% and over, but excluding any such yacht which wins the regatta overall.
Wandering Rose, having been conspicuously absent from the racing results, did much better in the raffola, going home with several prizes, including enough chocolate to see them across Breydon. All agreed it was another excellent weekend, despite the appalling weather. Here’s hoping that our next event (Breydon) bucks the trend and gives us blue skies and sensible sailing winds.
