Apologies for lack of breeze. However I believe that light wind sailing skills are very much worth learning and practising...
The exercise of maximising your boats downwind performance is as important as upwind and can often make the difference. Knowing the effect of deep running versus reaching and the effect of apparent wind are all part of understanding how to maximise your VMG. Whilst some would say but whats the point of not sailing with a spinnaker or genniker in these conditions others would see the and understand the lessons from using working sails only in this context.
Starts
There is much work to do on tightening up our starting skills and technique. Most boats sailed too far away from the committee boat to check the flags and give themselves time to hit the start at speed. Only two or three boats really contested the starts properly. Even though the pin end of the line was favoured boats still have five minutes to run the length of the line to assess best start positions. All boats should check flags by sailing by the committe boat near the 5 minute warning signal rather than just relying on the sound signals.Whilst the light winds did make measuring distance to the line difficult - in light conditions there is an argument for taking up station by luffing or heaving to near or on the line.
Good Contest
Overall the races were sailed in a positive and fair manner and I believe there were several good tussles and contests out on the water especially between Authority, Thea and Xakanaxa downwind. Rosemary was in her element slipping through the water in the light breeze like a knife through butter and well deserved her second placing. Xakanaxa was very close to a podium and will just need to improve margins slightly to get there. Authority was competitive in the second race and unfortunately had to withdraw from race 4 for other commitments. Wizard had an unfair weight advantage and proved just how slippery she is on all points of sailing although she would have done better with a few more bodies. Bliss and Skellum need congratulatary mention for great effort and with Skellum getting just reward for concentration and staying power. Bliss showed much courage and will be back to show her capabilities with a bit more breeze and a clean boat next time.
Rules, Rights and Protests
Two incidents did occur which marred the overall success and fun of the day. One of these incidents was fairly minor but the other could have resulted in significant damage and possible injury through a T-bone port-starboard collision situation. Whilst I discouraged protests in the name of fun and fairness the next Drag Race will be a much more serious affair where protests will be encouraged and knowledge of the rules of overlap, water at the top mark and the rules of collision will be essential to race effectively. If we have the manpower we will have observers on the water to lodge protests against transgressing yachts irrespective of the actions of other yachts. We cannot afford to have collision situations arise in club races through ignorance of the rules or over-aggressive behaviour on the part of other yachts. A thorough knowledge of the racing rules must be the urgent objective of individual skippers and the club as a whole.
Overall a great days racing and many lessons learned and to be learned.
Thank you.
Ken Wiltshire
Race Officer
