After the blow out of last weekend, where we saw gusts of 40 knots ono the Solent, and no racing, the drive to Warsash in thick fog did not bode well; was there going to be enough wind to race?  A call from an old racing buddy who was already in the Hamble at 7 am assured us that the fog was clearing and there was at least a bit of breeze.

After our hellos to LLYC members Gav and Steve who were down to race on the SB3 Team Novae, we set off on Lutine Belle.  There were loads of yachts – all different shapes and sizes heading out to the mouth of Southampton water.  There were three starting area – White group, which consisted of the 707’s, J80’s and SBR handicap boats, a separate area for the SB3’s and the black group for the bigger boats.

We found our start area and practiced with a couple of hoists and gybes – all of which went reasonably well until the drop, when the head on the spinnaker halyard freed itself and ended up at the top of the mast……a lifejacket and sail tie as a bosuns chair, the halyard was retrieved – I wouldn’t have recommended it to the boys though!

We watched the J80’s start to see which would be the best end of the line – most boats bundled up at the Committee boat end, but we decided on the pin end where we had clear air and headed towards the mainland to take advantage of the shallower water.

We rounded the first mark in 5^th place, but our hoist and trim was fairly good and team work was beginning to shape.  By the leeward mark, we managed to make up a place and that was where we stayed until the end of the race, finishing in 4^th place, 3 minutes and 7 seconds behind the leaders.

The second race started reasonably soon after, and we wanted to do better – which we did – another 4^th, but only 2 minutes and 25 seconds behind the leaders this time.  We were getting into the groove and with the crew constantly calling settings, angles and speed, we were concentrating and trimming: at one stage we even rounded the wing mark in pole position, but the other boats took the opposite side of the course to us and managed to obtain more boat speed.

After a quick sandwich (that I’d managed to secrete on board without Peter knowing – all additional weight!), we were ready for the third race.  Total concentration was required again:  we wanted to do better, but could we?

After an excellent start, and all was going well after the first lap, we headed to the left of the course again, while the rest of the fleet took the right.  We took the wing mark in second place, but then disaster….and I’ll take the blame for this one – I hasn’t thought ahead – we’d dropped the spinnaker on the starboard side but needed a port hoist – I’d not run the lines round.  We tried to throw it up and then pole it, but managed an hour glass.  Dropping the halyard, to try and untwist it, and did but this all took valuable seconds.  We lost places: mind you, at the drop, we nearly lost Marcus who lost his footing and nearly slipped under the guard rails.  Again, another 4^th place, but only 2 minutes and 8 seconds behind the leaders this time.

We had a fun three races in glorious sunshine.  The procession of spinnakers on the way back toward the Hamble and a beer in the Yacht Club at Warsash saw a fab October afternoon.  Well done and thanks to Peter, Andrew, Richard and Marcus – and our shore crew of the day, Amanda!

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