The long distance race took place on Bank Holiday Monday the 28th of August. Previously moved from earlier in the year the change of date proved to be good with sun and light winds. With 11 entrants the race was as popular as previous years but this time with even more of our young cat sailors completing in the club Dart 16s.
A briefing took place at 10.30am with the course set which would be from the club line, out of the channel, to Woodbridge Haven, to Orford Haven, back to Woodbridge Haven, then to Ledge and back to the club line. Pre start it looked as if the incoming tide was going to get the better of everyone as the slower cats were taken up the river. After catching some wind everyone made the start and crawled over the line and out of the channel. A poor choice to take in the tide took Dan Smith and Tom Rouse of of contention and took them from 3rd to last in a few minutes.
Approaching Haven, Andy Robinson and Harley Barkes in the F18 overlaid the mark allowing Roger and Debbie in the RS400 to make some gains laying the mark perfectly. Sam Rowell and Rob Grimsey in their Dart 18 also slightly overlaid allowing David Robertson to make gains laying the mark better.
The F18 and RS400 pulled away from the fleet using their asymmetric spinnakers all the way to Orford Haven. the Dart 16s battled it out all the way as well. Back upwind Sam Rowell and Rob Grimsey closed the gap from 100m down to 20m and eventually overtook when David mis-understood the process of shortening the course using Haven/Rib gate.
Congratulations to Roger and Debbie on winning the Long Distance race this year in their RS 400. Andy Robinson and Harley Barkes were first in to the beach but after handicap came second in the Hobie Tiger F18. Sam Rowell and Dave Robertson came 3rd and 4th with only 3 seconds separating them after over two and a half hours of racing!
Well done to all those who completed the race in club Dart 16s despite the struggle against the tide on the start. Special shout out to Ed Swain who spent the longest time afloat completing the course in 3 hours and 27 minutes in his Laser Radial. Thanks to Tim for being race officer and to all those on safety. If anyone has any photos please share. Race report coming soon!
