Lighter and brighter for Hare and Hounds 12

More on the theme of weather forecasters getting it wrong.  The Inshore Waters forecast gave a F5-7 SW for the 24 hour period from 06:00 Sunday morning.  At the club at 11:00 we were greeted by a very pleasant F2-3 SSW, bright sunshine and warm too.  After the wind yesterday, I would say that the change was welcomed by the majority of the fleet.

First up let me congratulate the race officer on a fine choice of course.  6.5 miles with a full mix of upwind, downwind and reaches.  The start was interesting, when we first went out I thought the line was relatively unbiased, but by the first start the wind had backed and certainly favoured the pin end.  So at least half the fleet decided to aim for the pin, the result being that most of the fleet were pushed over.  The Race Officer hurrumphed in his hut and flourished the black flag for the subsequent start, the fleet was a little better behaved, but still two boats over before the gun. It was tight at the pin end, the tide made it difficult to round the ODM.

Todays race was as much about tide as anything else.  It was heavily flooding as we started and determined the tactics of the race.  For example, the timing of the crossing from the Thorney shore to both Northney and Tye was critical - too early and you end up in very light wind by Hayling in lots of tide, too late and you sail further than you need.  Another point regarding tide was on the final leg from Northney to the line.  I was surprised to see the tide still flooding in the main channel at 20 minutes past high water, there were gains to be made in sticking to the channel until Fowley, then it seemed to turn.


Some highlights from the results:

- After a bit of a dodgy start, John Townsend and Barbara Langford sail through the fleet to take 2nd place in their Merlin.  Its very difficult to come through boats in that light breeze.
- Ben Davis starts up the inboard motor in his Finn and storms to 3rd place, that Finn is really quick in the lighter airs (and beautifully finished, worth a look if you haven't seen the boat up close)
- Andy and Vicky place first ISO and take the Sunday Series, excellent results across a wide variety of conditions.
- Paul and Caroline Fisk place 4th in their 200, they are consistently quick in all weather.
- Tom Tredray places first Laser by a good margin, with Max Jones in second place.
- Finally, a mention to Paul and Andrew in their Toppers, who finished some way behind the main fleet, that's perseverance. Fortunately they got back before the F8 squall crossed the harbour!

There is another set of photos from the racing today, I've not received them yet to look in again soon.

And the 300 log will follow once I've taken the dog for a walk and had a nap.