2007 Parhelion Autumn Series
The Parhelion autumn yacht racing series is run by the Portsmouth Sailing Club, with races in the Eastern Solent, off Portsmouth and in Hayling bay.
Race 6 & 7 reports, from Saturday 20th October 2007
Crew : Phil, Jane (helm), Phil B, Joe, Richard and Julian
This was the "Lady Helm" day. Our helm was international yachtswoman Jane Tillet, brought in all the way from Beauvais in France especially for the occasion. So for today's racing, Phil was booted off the helm and there was the prospect of steering the right way for a change.
The forecast for the day had been for the strongest breeze of the series so far, maybe even 11 knots. On the day we actually had between 6 and 14 knots true south easterly.
After breakfast in the Korner Kaff, we went back to the boat and changed. We left the marina and picked up some radio traffic suggesting that the start would be in the vicinity of Gilkicker, so we made our way in that direction where we found the committee boat, Mary Shibhaun anchored in Stokes bay. We've never started here before, this was the first shock to the system. Phil had expected a start near Rainbow, with a couple of short triangle races, probably up to Gleeds and then back to the club. The predictions had already faltered!
The tide was just turning and starting to flow to the east and it would build during our racing, although being on neaps it wouldn't be particularly strong.
Race 6
The course for the first race of the day read like an essay. History has shown that these races are usually a lot of fun, but the navigator can expect a hard time. The course was a beat to Gleeds, followed by a run down to N. Sturbridge, which was a gybe mark enroute to S Ryde Middle (yep, miles away), with a beat back to Royal Albert via the line. From Royal Albert there would be a broad reach to Bob Kemp and then onto Browndown before returning to the line.
Blimey, ambitious even with the strongest breeze of the series so far.
In the prestart, OMK had observed the port end bias and assuming that the helms on the other boats might not be quite a sharp as the regulars, we elected to try for a port end port tack start. Things went well, and we approached the pin end of the line with the other boats miles away. In the last minute we attempted to slow the boat down as much as we could but we were about 30 seconds early at the pin This meant that as we sailed down the line we were much closer to the rest of the fleet who were predictably all on starboard. At the gun we were off. The closest boat to us was Just In Time, approaching on starboard and leading the rest of the fleet. Our bowman said that the bow would have gone in front but he didn't know about the rest of the boat! We elected to duck Just In Time and then most of the rest of the fleet. Not quite on plan A but at least we had clear air and water with fair tide as the rest fought amongst themselves on the way to Gleeds.
One More Knot's track in red
Rhapsody's track in green
The split fleet converged at Gleeds, which revealed the true order. Just In Time was first around with OMK about 1 minute behind. There was a clear gap gap to the rest.
We then had a very long run down to S. Ryde with a gybe at N Sturbridge on the way. One More Knot was able to close the gap on Just In Time, using the protection form the tide offered by the shallower water on Ryde Middle, but we never got our bows in front. Meanwhile we opened up a substantial gap on the rest of the fleet. At one point the following boats were far enough back that their hulls were silhouetted above the horizon.
The leaders rounded S. Ryde Middle, Just In Time elected to tack immediately back into deep water south of Ryde Middle. One More Knot elected to cross Ryde Middle and seach for the deeper water to the north. On the long beat back to the line One More Knot (port) and Just In Time (starboard) approached each other. For the first time in the race (apart from a few seconds at the start) OMK was at the head of the fleet as we crossed in front of JIT. We cross tacked again later, still in front, but then lost out to Just In Time who had made some better ground.
It was close racing but Just In Time took the line honours (on a shortened course) with One More Knot finishing about 30 seconds later. There was a big gap before the next boats crossed the line, nearly 8 minutes; when Concerto and the Total Obsession Too finished. Rhapsody finish about 10 minutes after One More Knot. Scallywag was next to finish, about 17 minutes after OMK and just 47 seconds inside the race time limit. One More Knot's race time was just over 2 hours 12 minutes, so the handicap would have a big effect when converting one the water to adjusted times. Our immediate assessment was that Concerto were easily in front of us, then Just In Time, then either Rhapsody and One More Knot, but we weren't sure which order. We hoped that Rhapsody wouldn't split us and Just In Time because that would make a big impact on our points gap over JIT.
The result showed that Concerto won by over 2 and a half minutes, followed by Scallywag (phew, just those few seconds inside the time limit) then Just In Time, One More Knot, Rhapsody, Total Obsessesion Too and finally newcomer Wombat who was over the time limit.
Replay the race here
Replay One More Knot's GPS track here
Also includes Rhapsody's track
This opens in a new window a uses javascript.
Race 7
A shorter course was set for the second race of the day. Upto Royal Albert, then a fine reach to Bob Kemp, followed by a short beat to North Sturbridge and the a long run down to Browndown before a beat back up to the the finish, basically an hour glass / figure of eight course.
We elected to use a more conventional start for this race, on starboard. The wind had shifted and now favoured the committee boat end of the line. As we approached the line we had a good position just astern of Concerto We yelled at Just In Time to make sure that they didn't barge in and we hit the line on the gun. The fleet started the short beat to Royal Albert.
One More Knot's track in red
Rhapsody's track in green
Shortly after the start the tail of the fleet tacked onto port to sail into the better tide, however this left Concerto and One More Knot on starboard. OMK had clear air and continued to sail towards the beach. Concerto was pinned by OMK and unless she was prepared to tack and duck us she would just have to wait for OMK. Eventually, we tacked and sailed toward the mark. We couldn't make it in one so we did need another double tack to get up and around. Just In Time were first around the mark followed by One More Knot.
Then our mistakes crept in, as we rounded Jane bore away but Phil hadn't given her a course to sail, so we went too deep as we concentrated on getting the kite up. It was a nice hoist! However, when we realised we were sailing deeper than the other boats we asked ourselves why and with horror realised that we were much too deep. As we hardend up and dropped the pole forward the oat speed increased. We asked Jane if we were making the course yet, she said no, so we came up a bit more and then ........ broached. Lots of water over the deck and the boat spun up so far that the spinnaker backed as we hadn't let the sheet go. Realising the predicament, Phil said put the wheel over hard the other way and we went all the way around. A full 360 with the spinnaker up, that'll be a handy move to remember if we need to do penalty turns! Actually, as it was ladies day, we thought we would do it with a flourish and a twirl. The GPS track showed that it cost us about 45 seconds.
After our twirl, we put the #2 back up and took down the kite. We had good speed and once things had calmed down on board, we relised that we weren't the only one having trouble. There are some good lessons in this one, we had become to accustomed to our upwind downwind sausages to think about reaching wind angles. Maybe we could have carried our smaller kite better, but actually white sails worked pretty well too.
We rounded Bob Kemp after Just In Time and Total Obsession Too and Concerto Phil B on the bow asked if we would need the kite again. "Oh yes" came the reply. "How long have we got?". Phil pointed at N. Sturbridge only about half a mile away, so "Oh bl**dy hell" was the last remark from the bowman as he dissappeared down the companionway to put the beast back in the bag.
After a short beat to North Strubridge, the fleet rounded and once again deployed their kites. This time, the run was almost dead downwind, a much better course for our new spinnaker. We overhauled Concerto, the Total Obssession Too and eventually were closing in on Just In Time by the leeward mark at Browndown.
Just In Time were the first around followed by OMK. We were on for the final beat to the finish. Just In Time was still in front on the water but One More Knot was trying hard. As we approached the line, OMK had the choice to try for a windward overlap but were liable to be squeezed out by JIT coming up to the committee boat. Instead we elected to try a different move and went for the other end of the line. We bore away to drop underneath and try to get a clear gap for some good wind. In all probability, we were never going to take line honours unless JIT lost their nerve and tried to chase us. Just In Time took line honours, just 7 seconds in front of One More Knot.
The handicap was particulary cruel to us in this race as despite the small distance on the water, the corrected time made a gap of 46 seconds. To make matters worse, 2 other boats slipped into that gap so as Just In Time claimed a 2nd place, OMK had to put up with a 5th. Oh, and don't forget, we lost 45 seconds with our spinnaker shenanigans, how expensive those mistakes seemed now!
For the record, Concerto won by over 2 minutes, followed by a gaggle of yachts, Just In Time, Scallywag, Total Obsession Too and One More Knot all spanning just 46 seconds, with Rhapsody a further minute behind. Wombat completed her first raceday with the PSC another 9 minutes further back.
Replay the race here
Replay One More Knot's GPS track here
Also includes Rhapsody's track
This opens in a new window a uses javascript.
From Concerto
Given that the forecast earlier in the week for no wind the crew on Concerto were very pleased to feel a healthy breeze in the marina. Our "lady-helm" for the day was Kate Taylor, an experienced sailor and keen racer - we were very pleased to have bagged such a good helm for the day. I also enjoyed not being on the stick for the day allowing me to concentrate more on boat trim, speed and enjoying the fantastic sailing conditions. Is it really the middle of October? - bring on more global warming! Also onboard were Dave "Disco" Feltham, Mark Anstey, Mark Porteous, and Annie Dew.
For the first race we had an absolutely fantastic start, at the gun we were just passing beneath the committee boat and a few seconds from the line. With clean air and the majority of the fleet underneath us we were off. I think OMK started on Port and had to duck most of the fleet but this left them heading out into maximum tide and this seemed to pay. We had an uneventful but fast sail up to Gleeds and went around in third place, OMK and JIT ahead, TOT and Rhapsody just behind. We then had a long run under spinnaker and Disco did his best to distract the crew of TOT as they slowly went past us to leeward. Fortunately at the gybe mark we kept the kite flying throughout but TOT seemed to have a problem with their spinnaker pole so Concerto managed to pull away and we had approximately 4 boat lengths of separation. On the final run down to the leeward mark Concerto was the lead boat in a procession of three - Concerto, TOT and Rhapsody. At the bottom mark we did a slick genoa hoist and spinnaker drop, managing to hold the kite until rounding the mark.
For the final beat to the finish we decided to stay out in the tide while Rhapsody and TOT seemed to take a course closer to the mainland. In the end this seemed to pay off as we increased our lead on the following two boats but only by a small margin. Hard to tell how we did in the race, we were 3rd on the water but there was quite a margin between us and OMK/JIT.
The start to the second race wasn’t as good as the first, we were on the line at the start with good speed but had a number of boats above us and we were almost up the beach before OMK tacked and we were able to follow. After a short beat to the first mark we had a very tight spinnaker reach. Most boats in club class launched a spinnaker but it was proving too tight for most. We opted to launch the small spinnaker that is slightly flatter and makes a good reaching sail but by the time we were most of the way across the Solent we went back to white sails in time to clear everything away and tack around the mark and head up to N-Sturbridge. The sail up to N-Sturbridge was fairly processional with no changes of position, after rounding we were back to the large spinnaker for the final run of the day, following this was a beat to the finish where we again chose to head out into maximum tide but this made little difference as most other competitors were doing the same.
We all had a fantastic days sailing and really enjoyed the interesting courses that were set for us today. While we wouldn’t always want to do a long race like the first one today it did make a refreshing change and gave us all a chance to stretch our sea-legs. Kate made an excellent stand in helm and I’m looking forward to having her on Concerto next year.
From Rhapsody
It's lady helm race day and we have recruited Lynne and husband Trevor for today. Two of the regular crew couldn't make it so things have worked out fine. The committee boat is about half a mile west of Gilkicker and has laid the ODM.
Race 6
The course is a long one and is shortened during the race. The wind is around 10 knots and we hoist the #1 headsail. After sailing around for a few minutes, the wind has increased and consequently Lynne is struggling somewhat. At the 10 minute gun we decide to change the headsail to the #2. That done, we find we have only a very short time to sort ourselves out. We have to make a quick spin round just before the start signal and cross the line on starboard about halfway down. A couple of tacks later and we are nearing Gilkicker and then tack again. Four more tacks and we are rounding Gleeds and hoisting the spinnaker with a bear-away set and heading towards North Sturbridge, the next mark. Once there we gybe and continue to South Ryde Middle, the following mark. The only club class boats behind us are Scallywag and newcomer Wombat. We drop the spinnaker and round the mark and then take a long tack in towards the mainland shore. The tidal stream atlas indicates slightly more favourable tide over that side. Once level with Browndown it's five more tacks until we cross the finish line. During this stage the wind has eased and we are now lacking in boat speed; we really need the #1! We cross the line with Scallywag close enough behind to beat us on handicap.
Race 7
We decide to change back to the #1 for this race and get that done in good time. We manage a better start this time crossing the line near the committee boat in close company with Total Obsession. Just In Time crosses behind us and immediately tacks onto port. We follow and after a short tack it's back to starboard to round Royal Albert a boat length ahead of Total Obsession. They manage to cut inside us at the mark - nice move Rick! We both hoist spinnakers and proceed towards Bob Kemp. It proves to be very tight for carrying the spinnaker and along with the rest of the fleet ahead we soon drop it and carry on under white sails. Scallywag's crew perseveres with their kite and again are not far behind us. Our GPS plot for this leg shows a very wiggly course. Having rounded Bob Kemp it's a beat to N Sturbridge. We need only one short extra tack as we near the mark to get round and hoist the spinnaker for the next leg. This is almost dead downwind to Browndown. Just In Time and One More Knot are a long way ahead and we have Concerto and Total Obsession ahead of us. As the wind varies we note that when it's lighter we seem to catch them and when it picks up they draw ahead. We reach Browndown and having dropped the spinnaker start out on the final beat to the finish. Having finished, we see that Scallywag is again close enough to beat us and it's apparent that Concerto has almost certainly won. As for the others, we have no idea we'll just have to await the results.
Final Thoughts
These were two fantastic races that the crew really enjoyed. The courses were good and made a welcome change from short windward-leeward several times around type races. Helms-woman Lynne enjoyed herself greatly and I decided that Martin can keep his job as navigator when he's back next week - I'd rather steer - it's too much responsibility getting the course right. I missed out a mark for the first race when I wrote it down; luckily we rechecked and spotted it. We did learn from our mistake of a few weeks ago!
All in all, it was a beautiful October day for some great sailing. The courses were a bit different from the usual format and the crews enjoyed sailing them very much. It was fun sailing with the ladies at the helm and the results have stirred the series up significantly. All those boats that didn't provide a lady helm should be penalised. I proposed that those skippers should be required to perform in drag for the remainder of the series in order for their future points to count!
One final word of caution, whilst we enjoy the longer courses, Scallywag at the slower end of the handicap would have been robbed (by the time limit) of a 2nd place if she had finished just 1 minute later.