Racing
More success for rusailing in the annual Bluewater Regatta!
September came and saw the now annual Bluewater regatta. Rusailing had won this event twice before with Annecy. This year was going to be different with Firefly also competing for her first time. Demand was high and both boats soon filled up with participants – all current and previous students of our school. Some elected to challenge Rob and Firefly by joining Annecy, the others got the chance to race with him and to fully understand the X-35 in all her carbon livery…
Day One came round quickly and with barely time to get used to each other or the boats, the race got underway. Firefly made a steady start, narrowly avoiding the scrap on the line to come breezing through at full speed in clean air while the others tripped over each other. Perfect. A fine race in light winds saw her duel with the other serious contenders in the fleet to take a well-deserved second place with which the whole crew were delighted. The light airs meant that Annecy struggled but a mid-table finish gave the crew a starting point and a challenge to improve.
Day two, race two – a ‘passage race’. The longer coastal race gave the heavier boats a chance to perform but surprisingly it was still the performance boats that stole the show. Firefly once again battling with the two other top contenders ‘Take it Easy’ (B&H 41) and ‘Seita II’ (Elan 340) but this time being nudged down the field by cruising boats who performed well in the stiffer breezes. Still, a commendable 6th place gave us a poke to try to improve too!
After a very nice social evening with both boat crews enjoying dinner together in a local eatery, swords were drawn for the final day of racing. The first race of the day was in very light winds. Firefly took off and never really looked back apart from furious calculations of handicaps and noting of finishing times. We’d won! Firefly’s first win. A jubilant atmosphere rained as we’d beaten bigger boats with bigger crew to take the honours. Annecy too had found her feet, tacked less, started more aggressively and hence now moving up the table. The second race of the day wasn’t to suit Firefly.. The wind filled and filled, typical Lagos summer breeze of F5 gusting F6 meant a change of headsail, a reef in the main and no spinnaker flying for anyone. We were too light – designed for a crew weight of 630Kg, we had about 450Kg and when jobs needed to be done, we had next to nobody up on the rail. Still finishing well over the line, the heavy displacement boats had a much better time and with Annecy finishing 3 places above Firefly on handicap, she certainly had her day.
All that was left to do was to bide our time, consider our discard points (the last race as it turned out) and try to re-count everyone else’s performance before prize giving. Typically Bluewater, the evening’s social was excellent. A Hawaiian theme had about half our students in loud shirts or grass skirts. Even Rob had a flower tying his hair up…. After several drinks, Paul the organiser stood up to make the race announcements. Overall, Annecy had finished in 12th place, Firefly in 2nd. Both excellent results given the competition and conditions. The Champagne, trophy and prize Firefly’s crew received went down very well and also served to make Annecy’s crew more resolute for next time…. Everyone said they’d be back next year.
A big thanks to all our participants:
Alexey, Mark, Sarah, Jon, Sarah and Rob – Team Firefly (well done!)
Alan, Marco, Andy, Jules, Mike and Tom – Team Annecy (well done too!)
The best bit of the whole weekend? Seeing 10 of our students return to enjoy some time on the water together. Great fun and a proud moment for rusailing!
Expand your horizons and join us in the next racing season!
All of our racing schemes are aimed at introducing students to the exciting facet of yacht racing. Our aim at each event will be to train up to the level needed for us all to enjoy our participation whilst also aiming to be competitive. Full training and support will be given in our usual professional style.
It's going to be fast, furious and FUN
Highlights for 2012 to include:
Winter season training and racing - starting 2011
Lagos-Palos historic coastal race
Lagos city day 3 day regatta
Volta de Algarve
Bluewater 5th Annual 3-day regatta
plus a few more events yet to be scheduled.
other 2011 events......
8th - 10th July 2011
FIREFLY AND CREW TOOK 2ND IN CLASS & 4TH ON LINE HONOURS OUT OF 28 ENTRANTS!
XXII Regata dos Portos dos Descobrimentos Palos de La Frontera – Lagos
Campeonato do Algarve de Cruzeiros - - - - - -
This is a prestigious annual race between the two great Frontiers of Palos (Christopher Columbus home port) and Lagos (Vasco de Gamma's home port). Always a great event celebrating the two great explorers, resulting in a heady mix of Spanish and Portuguese experiences for today's intrepid.... This race is over 100Nm and therefore necessarily spans overnight - how exciting! This year the start was from Palos in Spain.
Our crew of 4 joined us on Sunday the 3rd of July and on Monday the 4th we trained locally in the Bay of Lagos - getting used to Firefly, crew positions and the essentials of racing such as spinnaker launch and trim. On Tuesday and Wednesday we made the passage and enjoyed pre-race experience on the way to Palos (Huelva, Spain) with an overnight stop along the way at Tavira. After a few hours rest, Thursday and Friday morning were our main race training days in the Huelva area. On Thursday night we removed the 'white' sails and out came the carbon/kevlar race sails! She was ready to go. More training and then after registration on Friday afternoon and the official race briefing the evening saw the start of the racing with a short prologue race held locally at 5pm. Fast and furious it certainly was. Dinner was a very pleasant buffet hosted by the sailing club in Mazagon Marina, chance to talk to fellow racers - lots of new and old face
s!
Engines sealed, the race back to Lagos began at 11am Spanish time. It was interesting to see who chose to head out to sea and those who opted to hug the coast. Firefly sailed beautifully, pointing well and coping amiably with the variable winds. Strong at first and then backing off, at one time she had SOG of 4 knts in 5 knts of breeze! Not many boats could boast that performance. Sailing into the night the helm was rotated and sails trimmed, everybody playing their part. Other boats were sighted regularly, some we overtook, others went on a different course. By 4am the finish line was in sight and out of the dark we realised that we were amongst a group of 4 boats all racing for the line! After 18 hours we were arriving in company! Concentration as high as possible we sailed our best course and were first of that particular group over the line - 4th in the fleet. Quite an achievement for a 35ft boat.
All great fun and already the whole team are asking about joining next year to race from Lagos over to Palos! Watch this space.
FIREFLY AND CREW TOOK 2ND OVERALL - SEE REPORT ABOVE
9th, 10th and 11th September 2011
Bluewater Algarve Fun Sail Regatta in conjunction with Marina de Lagos and Clube de Vela de Lagos
The format will be 5 races over the 3 days, 2 days with 2 races around the Cans (triangle course) and on the third day a long leg up and down the coast. (The G&T leg). The exact format will be decided when the organisers have an accurate weather forecast.
We are told that it will be one of the best weekends of the season on and off the water with yachts of any shape and size are welcome and the organisers are promising excellent sailing, good company, plenty of eating and drinking, and prizes galore await!
You will join your chosen boat at 10am on Friday morning and we will ensure that there are a couple of hours of practice before the first race at 1pm. Accomodation will be provided on the boat for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and we will also supply food for breakfasts and lunches. The fee will include all the racing, race shirts, social events and of course the party on Sunday night.
We have two exciting options available to suit your heart rate....
Annecy £325 per place. Annecy has won this entire event twice in the past and this time will be skippered by Tom Ford.
Firefly £425 per place. She will be decked out in her carbon/kevlar race sails and skippered by Rob. He promises it's just for fun. Ummmh!