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| RBOD Newsletter June 2010 | |||||||||||||||
| Monday 5th July 2010 |
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| Dear All, Here is a summary of the events in June in the RBOD fleet. The weather has been classically British with oilskins and sun block used in equal measure:- Caudle Cup (6 June) The annual team race against the RCODs was hosted by the RBYC using 2 RBODs and 2 RCODs on each side. Race Officer Andy Wise and mark Layer Alistair Munro did a great job in laying courses across the tide in light and variable winds for the series of 3 races. The first race ended in victory for the RCOD team as they finished strongly with the last 2 RBODs struggling to round the leeward mark as the wind switched off. The RBOD team pulled out all the stops to take race 2, leaving the series to be decided on the last race. In a very closely fought tussle with positions changing constantly, the RBODs did just enough to win the deciding race with only 1 place separating the 2 teams. Well done to the RBOD helms and crews:- Simon, Milly, Richard Will, Barty, James Tony, Rachael, Nicola Paul, Sylve, Pam Aspirin Trophy (12-13 June) The RTYC team gathered at the RBYC on Saturday evening eagerly awaiting the traditional attempt to render them comatose through drink before the night was out. After an excellent dinner, the RBOD team gave it their all, continuing a strong performance at the bar until late into the night. Unfortunately they did not notice the opposition sliding away to bed and the RBODs continued to self destruct in a sea of Max’s Specials. 2 Racing on Sunday was held in a reasonably firm SSW breeze and, once again, the Wise/Munro race management team produced excellent windward/leeward courses. Fired up by the prospect of competing against Olympic Gold medallist Ian Macdonald-Smith and a couple of local sailors sleeping with the enemy, the RBOD team took command of race one and held off the RTYC to the finish. Race 2 was closer but, by now, the cobwebs had been shaken off the RBODs and their team racing tactics allowed them to recover from a deadly 7/8 position to take race 2 and the series; retaining the Aspirin Trophy. RTYC Class Captain was offered the opportunity for a final race which he gladly accepted in order to keep his team out of the bar for a while longer. Despite the unusual sight of a member of the home team taking out another RBOD boat ay the start (the sailing equivalent of ‘friendly-fire’) and helped by an RTYC boat missing the gate, the RBODs triumphed and took the third and final race. A very pleasant lunch followed with the trophy awarded to the RBODs by RTYC Class Captain, Peter Hunter. The victorious helms and crews:- David, Jo, Charlie & friend Will Barty James Steven, Cathy, Lizzie Paul, Sylve, Rose Ladies Race, Raft-up and picnic (19 June) The weather really pulled out all the stops for this event with a very gusty cold NW’ly and heavy rain showers! In true RBOD style the show went on with 5 intrepid lady helms taking to the water:- AMANDA Gemma Smith RED JACKET Jo Head GERALDINE Clare Dallimore ANNETTE Rachel Iveson MANDARIN Barty Dallimore MANDARIN and GERALDINE led the pack to Creeksea where the fleet closed up with RED JACKET and AMANDA snapping at their heels. Once into Cliff reach MANDARIN stretched her legs and opened up a comfortable lead with the rest of the fleet locked in a close tacking dual with nothing to separate them. GERALDINE’s race unfortunately ended prematurely when a runner track pulled out but the rest of the fleet completed the course in the very challenging conditions. Barty took line honours in MANDARIN with Jo Head in RED JACKET second. Well done to all the lady helms who did a fantastic job despite some of them being well outside their comfort zone! Race Officer Andy Wise bravely formed the target for the raft up and a very British picnic took place despite the less than ideal weather! Brightlingsea event 26-27 June An intrepid group gathered at the RBYC on Saturday morning for the annual offshore race to Brightlingsea and back. Barry and Fianne expertly gathered ANNETTE, GERALDINE and MANDARIN and towed them down the river behind their lovely Fairey Swordsman, KITTIWAKE. Nigel and Nicola Musto kindly officiated for the start off the Crouch buoy in FLIGHT, the start sequence being marked by piercing whistles which no doubt had all Dengie sheepdogs charging towards shore-ends. The first leg was a beat into a choppy sea to the Ray Buoy. MANDARIN led to the turning mark and her position was helped by ANNETTE missing out the one and only mark in the race course! A fast but wet close reach followed with MANDARIN taking line honours off Brightlingsea Creek followed by GERALDINE in second. A very pleasant afternoon was spent in the marina basking in the sunshine and swapping tales of our deep-sea adventure. A lively dinner followed in the Colne 4 Yacht Club where the Golf Cup was presented to MANDARIN accompanied by the traditional celebrations which inevitably carried on into the night. The fleet set off in good time on Sunday morning, starting in the mouth of the Colne for a long fetch to the Ray buoy. GERALDINE decided to take a detour inshore but it was the general view that this was because Simon and Liz wished to be alone. This was achieved with remarkable success throughout the entire return trip. Meanwhile, ANNETTE and MANDARIN were having a very close race all the way to the Ray Buoy. Crucially, Simon Barnes, helming ANNETTE, reached the mark first and, with the tide under her and spinnaker up, maintained her lead to the RB line, winning the Oliver Cup. Dates for your diaries:- 4 July - Team Race against the Bar Y.C. !7 July – Picnic and Crew’s race 18 July – Single Handed Race 25 July – Team race against the Essex Yacht Club (Away) Happy sailing! Will Dallimore |
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By James Young |
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