Race report, 6 May 2018

At last – a perfect spring evening for a relaxing race.  We were missing an OD, but Inna Kolobov gallantly volunteered to run the race, for the first time, while Lev Kolobov tried out an Enterprise for the first time.  Not only that but he sailed it solo.

There wasn’t much wind – a gentle F2 from the SE – but enough to make a race of it for the 7 boats that launched.  The consensus was to set a short course with the start at Zoffany House. Chris Jones in the safety boat missed the start searching for the key to the safety boat so the sailors decided to improvise.  After the starting signal from Inna we passed the word around to turn in line with the first post on the mooring grid for the downstream mark and opposite a grey inflatable outside the Bell and Crown for the upstream mark.  All went well, with John Bull taking the lead, beating down to the first mark, and running up to the upstream mark with a brief detour to check with the Browns in their Ent on precisely which mark to turn on.  It didn’t hold him back much and he crossed the start line about 30 seconds ahead of the Browns.  Ian Nethersell was about the same distance behind in third place with Nick about a minute behind him.

Fortunately, by the time that Lev in his Ent completed his first lap at the back of the fleet, Chris (aided by David Kolobov) had managed to release the safety boat and had laid a proper downstream mark about half way down the mooring grid.  And he laid an upstream mark in ample time for John to come around on his second lap.  Ian was second on the second lap still about 30 seconds behind John but there was plenty of position-swapping at the downstream end of the course.  By the third lap Ian was in the lead ahead of John with Lev just over a minute behind and after much close-quarters tacking by the end of the fourth lap Ian and john crossed the finishing line with only two seconds between them.  Third and fourth position were fought over by the Browns and Alex Pape who finished 4 seconds apart.  Lev was a few seconds behind, obviously getting the feel of the boat, followed by Andy and Enoch and finally Nick.  All meticulously recorded by Inna, to whom many thanks.

Next week it’s a C-course at 12:30.