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Organising an event like our annual Middle Island Regatta is not a solo effort but a great opportunity for a new Race Chairman (like myself) to take advantage of the advice, experience and resources of others. So before reporting on the excitement of the weekend I must take the opportunity to thank those who contributed to its success. Starting with The Cast...
The DBMC & ABC Staff: A special vote of thanks to Jason, David and the F&B staff at the DB Marina Club, and Philippe, Owen and his F&B staff, Ah Kee and his Marine staff, as well as OOD, Park and the Committee Boat team at ABC. Both clubs continue to provide the DBYC with excellent venues, great food and friendly service which makes this event so popular with all the participants. Thank you very much - we look forward to next year.
Our DBYC Team: Thanks again to Jim & Alain who shared their experience from previous years and kept me on the straight and narrow; Tom & Jan on website duty (a thankless task); Andy & Jan on the Handicapping Committee who handle all the toughest questions; Lindsay who likes counting all the money; Ken who’s great with bunting on the start and for getting us in a competitive spirit; and of course Ian on Seafari, the luminous safety-boat.
Race 1 - Saturday, 18th October
Confessions of a Race Officer (by Ken Wiltshire)
Having just had the ‘drag-race’ training with everyone finely honed to be on the start line at the gun, we should have a well contested start today with 11 boats champing at the bit in a great sailing breeze of 18-22 knots from the East. And what a fine sight to behold: Rigel holding station 20 m back from the line near the committee boat ready to luff any bargers that haven’t heeded the RO’s warnings. Oh-oh, the rest of the boats are either too far away, at the pin end, or upwind of the committee boat ready to… and here they come, Harlequin and Xakanaxa fine-reaching toward the committee boat. But this time Rigel will stop them - surely? Xakanaxa bails out under the threat of being munched by Seafari’s outboards, but Harlequin carries on with Rigel’s challenge evaporating with a look of abject fear on Wolfie’s face like a rabbit caught in the headlights, transfixed and in irons. Well at least Harlequin hit the line right on the gun. Well done guys - you saw the opening and took it.
No other boat crossed the line for at least another 30 seconds as the fleet found themselves dealing with quite a bit more wind than they had expected. Sipidan who had stayed clear got a wonderful surging run on port across the line and was a great sight to see under speed in her kind of breeze.
Tom Pepper II recouped lost time quickly by getting good speed up the middle of the course but Authority and Salalah (with main halyard problems) were struggling to find their rhythm. Sotally Tober was also proving a challenge for Marina (and Ian) in finding her sweet spot. A pretty slick start to what became a wonderful weekend with every point of sail and bags of wind for everyone.
With that kind of breeze Harlequin used it to the full, taking a tight reach and only four tacks to Chesterman without needing to reef. Salalah and Authority also showed good speed as did Xakanaxa. The smaller boats all deserve a medal for courage-under-fire as it got pretty rough out there and was a real test of endurance for all of them. [click here for Tactical Tip of the Day]
From the back of the Fleet on Sipadan (St John’s Impressions)
...it was a different story. Almost from the start, the two Divisions split with Div A boats clear at the windward mark before Div B boats Sipadan then Rigel began threading the needle on a brave Port tack. Skellum was having none of it, though, holding their nerve with inches to spare.
The lee of Hei Ling Chau was slow for the smaller and heavier boats, so close-quarters verbal banter between boats appeared appropriate. But from the sedate to the thrilling, reaching Cheung Chau Rock was definitely a turning point in the conditions. The big-boys were well away by the time we at the more gentlemanly end of the fleet had to face the upwind beat and around Lamma in pretty challenging conditions, with many boats short-handed or with tyro crew aboard. Some reefed, others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Breakage on Jura and the threat of being swamped on TPII forced them to withdraw, but the rest battled to Chesterman Rock (hallelujah!) then Middle Island.
Ice-cold Cerveza Sol met the thirsty sailors on arrival at ABC MI, setting the scene for a great evening, with a Mexican salsa party and prize-giving ably assisted by our three young Senoritas: “Tortilla”, “Salsa” & “Fajita” (Stephanie, Lucie & Megan). Harlequin proved the deserving victor in Div A and Overall for Race 1, while Peter and family on Crystal put in a great effort to win Div B - their first time out!
Race 2 - Sunday, 19th October
Sunday dawned sunny with NE’ly F 4-5, and much reduced seas. ABC laid on a hearty full-fry to help the crews recover from the excesses of the Salsa Fiesta.
The Pursuit Race back to DB is always a popular event with expectations of a tight, competitive finish if the wind holds - and this time it certainly did. First at the start was Rigel (the hare) followed by the other Div B boats then, some time later, Div A (the hounds). The early boats had to contend with a “gaggle” of canoeists across the start line, then time their dash (a bit exaggerated perhaps) across the Lamma Channel between 5 in- and 3 out-bound cargo vessels in a single 40-minute window. Rigel just managed to cross ahead and extended what turned out to be an unassailable lead. South of Lamma, Rigel, Skellum & Sipadan led, followed by Crystal and Sotally Tober. But then Aegean came storming round, passing the wave-measuring buoys with kite flying well and soon overtook Sipadan and Skellum for 2nd place, flying their assy’ all the way to Datum Rock. Behind, a running battle developed, between Salalah, Harlequin & Authority.
Meanwhile, after much debate and calls to other skippers, the Xakanaxa crew finally convinced their navigator that he was wrong and the rest of the fleet were right. So back they sailed, to round the wave measuring buoys (yes, those ones) to starboard. They then clawed their way back into the race but missed out on a possible 3rd place - worthy successors for Ian Cusack’s Toilet Seat trophy!
Wizard, now of ABC, joined the pursuit as the last ‘hound’ but had too much to make up in the unexpectedly fresh conditions. However, they certainly claimed a large volume of visitors gifts in appreciation of their participation as the only ABC entry. We hope to see them again soon.
Thus Rigel & Aegean took 1 and 2, with Harlequin squeezing past Salalah (spinnakerless - not Sue’s decision...), then stealing the wind and 3rd from Sipadan right on the line. A really well-contested race and an exciting conclusion to two fabulous days of racing.
DB Marina Club laid on a wonderful spread for the prize-giving party, with a grand setting on the marina headland at sundown and Overall and Div A honours going to Harlequin, and Sipadan taking 1st in Div B - detailed results below. Well done all!
It was great to see the 13-boat fleet battling it out over the 2 days and reinforces the joy of being a member of such a friendly, competitive club that welcomes racers, beginners, family and friends alike.
St John Cameron
Race Chairman MIR’08
Photo’s courtesy of Sue Fernie, Michael Huggins, Ken Wiltshire and Brendan Roscoe. Click here for more pics...
