Dear Dragoners
We undertook this race with the very sad news of the passing of Paul Smith on Friday. He was a very committed member of the club helping out or organizing the regattas or setting up the clubs website and was particularly adept at using Sailwave. He was a very nice man and a friend to us all. Our sincere condolences go to his wife Jackie and immediate family for their sad loss.
Race Report 211 Cup 22nd October 2022
Wind 10kts gusting 15 was the forecast for the penultimate race of the season. An upriver buoy was laid to allow for a windward start(once a year is enough). With the wind veering from SW-S and decreasing during the afternoon and an ebbing tide, we opted for a special course using MYA1 as our leeward mark starting with 26 and finishing with 24 as the windward mark to allow for the change in wind direction.
Four boats started with Whistle ,Taniwha and OCD hovering around the South Shore on port for the start, whereas Suti came in at speed from upriver on starboard dipping the line getting a great start. Eventually after several lead changes Taniwha were first around the upriver windward mark followed by Suti and OCD. Whistle hadn’t got away well and were now some distance back.
Positions didn’t change much but going around MYA1 for the first time about 20 boats (sonatas and wayfarers) were descending or going around buoy 23. We had to pick our way through eventually making it followed by short tacking up towards Folly. Suti had now gained the lead but this was short lived. OCD had used the shallows a little better so the order was now OCD, Suti, Taniwha, and Whistle. Around 26 back to MYA1 and then up to 24 Suti stayed in the tide too long allowing Taniwha to gain second. The tide was at a fairly low state by now and the soundings were dropping fairly constantly allowing you to tack on 0.3m , however on Suti the depth gauge went from 0.9m to 0.2m and were aground before we could react. Ivor volunteered (or maybe he was pushed) to take the plunge for the second time this year and jumped into the lovely Medway mud (it was commented later in the bar how nice he smelt). By the time we got off the front two were away with only the trek along Gillingham Reach to go to the Seagas finishing line. The wind died down after finishing so a good job we self-finish.
Congratulations go to OCD for their first place with Taniwha in second, Suti in third and Whistle in fourth.
Regards Trevor & Edwin