COWES DINGHY WEEK 2010

[ptanner2611]

For the regular watchers of the forum its Cowes Dinghy Week this week so for the boys at Gurnard its 6 days of full on Fleet racing. We have 9 shadows entered and over the first 3 days a mix of conditions with yesterday the candles finally starting to work. For me the first two days was at the back end so not 100% sure what went on but I had some good racing with Tony and Dave.
Day One - 15 to 20 knots Laurie was off from the start and built a good lead form Robin and Carl with Paul finishing fourth.
Day two - Light and fluky - Just what Laurie likes. Racing was postponed until a light SW breeze came in . Unfortunatley it decided to drop off on the long run against the tide and almost disappeared in Gurnard Bay. Laurie had a good lead over Robin only to be pipped on the line as the breeze came and went. Mike managed to overhaul Carl for third. Further down in the fleet places again changed in the last 200 metres with Tony and Jaules making the best gains.
Day Three and a monster of a course and an increasing 15 to 22 knot breeze. Robin made the best of the start round the windward mark first followed by Mike , Paul and Carl. The next part of the course was 3 short upwind and downwind legs with incrediably close racing between the top 6 boats and many place changes. Robin and Mike had a 50 mtre advanatge but had changed places numerous times. The long reach across the solent to Quinell claimed its first swimmer in Laurie. James had major spinnker problems when the head knot jammed in the top block loosing him lots of time. After Quinell it was a long beat to Champagne Mumm the a reach back across the solent to Gurnard off egypt point then through the line for one lap. Phew only 2 more to go !!!!!!
At the front MIke and Robin continued to swop places with Julian and Paul closing in . MIke was the second swimmer on the reach across to Quinell. Robin had a 100 metre lead from Julian and Paul. At Gurnard Julian alomost went in allowing Paul through. Robin held on to First with Paul second , Julian Third and Carl Fourth. Luckily a shortend course after two monster laps as the beeze was now topping 25 knots in the gusts.

Day 4 and two shorter races back to back . Stay tuned..............

Paul
GBR 018

[ptanner2611]

Day 4 and a first for Dinghy week and two race for our class today.

Today was about playing the Brave , Cautious and stupid cards in what started as 20 knots of breeze. Those candles I brought before the 2009 are sure powerfull !!!!!!!

With a downwind start against the tide the first of the cards was to be played. Paul decided to play the brave card and hoisted his kite followed by James , Joules and Laurie. The run down to Gurnard off Eygpt point wasnt too much of a problem and Paul rounded first followed by James , Joules and Laurie. With the wind against tide the beat out into the solent was a hang on and hope you dont get washed off event. Paul made it to the windward mark at Gurnard ledge first just behind the F18 and Hurricane....... note Shadows do go well up wind. James rounded second followed by Laurie and Joules.

The next leg was a close reach across the solent with Paul playing the stupid card by trapezing in an attempt to overtake the F18 and Hurricane . When will this boy learn........with speeds of 20 to 22 knots it was only to end in one way a pitchpole at speed .......... note to Brain when in the lead always play the cautious card. Good old 018 was singing along but James took over from Paul and whilst playing the same stupid card capsized close to mainlaind shore. Laurie still playing the cautious card lead from Joules and a recovering Paul.

Note to race officer lepe spit wind against tide and even BIGGER seas what are we doing here !!!!!!!.

Laurie lead on like the brave 100 .........Bear with me here this is dramtic stuff !!!!!

So Laurie crossed first at AA marine followed by Joules , Paul and James .

So we were down to 4 brave , stupid souls .......... you pick. the remaining Shadows had played the cautious card and headed for shore.

So race 6 and only 4 brave souls left . James decided to retire after the start certain in his mind that Carl would believe that the big bend in 44 boom was not his fault but down to some low flying sea gull that collided with it ......... well hope the insurance company accept it ......... sure they will.

So down to 3 like the brave 100 onwards to wards the cannons ........ sorry wrong story. With the breeze upto 25 knots the seas were getting bigger its amazing how far a shadow can fly from one wave to the next ....... not fun .

Laurie got the best of the start followed by Joules and Paul with a defunt traveller lashed in the mid position. At the windward mark it was Laurie leading following by Joules and Paul. Joules decided to play the Brave or was it stupid card and hoisted his spinniker , Laurie deciding that the cautious card was the way to go stuck with mainsail only. Paul having already played the stupid card went for it again and hoisted his kite .......... thinking why didnt I listen to Laurie.

Joules built a small lead over the next lap from Laurie and Paul .

So finally the brave 3 finished . Joules first , Laurie second and Paul third.

So two more races to go and Laurie has a good lead but hey may be that stupid card maybe heading his way with Robin , JOules and Paul still a possible .

So stay tuned folks ....... same time ........ same bat channel.

Paul
GBR018

[robinl]

Well its over. And what a week of racing. Really close stuff.

The Wednesday let the heavy weights out of their boxes. The two short races were competed for in 20+ (usually 25+) knots. The fleet made it to the first mark after an exciting running start. After rounding, only Laurie Gustar, Jules Salter, Paul Tanner and James Martin continued on the beat past the safety of the dinghy park. After a titanic battle against each other and the increasing chop in the Solent, it finished in that order. Unfortunately, a second race was schedulled to be started from the committee boat and the message from the race box to cancel it was too late. The course was more friendly, using marks on the Island shore but the conditions were equally testing. Jules won followed by Laurie and Paul.

The DNF and DNS for Robin on Wednesday put Laurie in a commanding position in the series, Robin needs to win both Thursday and Friday and Laurie come no higher than 3rd in each.

After a close race on Thursday, Robin won but Laurie managed second. Jules finished third showing that he can do it in sensible winds as well.

Friday was the closest race of the week. A beat to the Western end of Thorness Bay and back to Gurnard a few time was the course. Carl Blenkinsop built a commanding lead on the first lap, only to be overtaken at the last windward mark by Laurie. During the run to the finiah Carl managed to retake the lead and win the race by 2 boat lenghts. The top 6 were separated by about one and a half minutes. Jules finished third again followed by Mike Martin and Robin Leather who pipped James Martin on the finish.

Overall, Laurie was the clear winner followed by Robin and Jules whose increasing speed in heavy and light winds are a worry to the rest of the fleet.

Its a shame its over. Nine Shadows racing so closely on such great courses for six days has been great fun. Thanks

Robin
GBR 056