Ding Ding – Seconds out Enterprise Report 2012-07-04

Well it wasn’t raining but the much awaited sunshine forecasted did not appear. Wind 6 knots from the South and definitely shortie wetsuit not polar bear drysuit weather. I did some tomato heads out there so some people don’t think it’s warm enough to lose the winter warmers.

Course: West Mallard, Melampus, South Mallard, Yacht Haven.

It’s a reaching start on port out to West Mallard and Dave, the daredevil, is inches off the line and going at full speed for the gun. From one boat length back in the Spoon we can hear plenty of calm reassurance from Anna that everything’s on track. “Dave you’re really on the line now!”. All boats get away safely with a single hooter and Dave in the lead around West Mallard. Up the first beat we get assertively waved away by a fast Police RIB who’s clearing the way for an equally fast moving Frigate which cuts across the Asia Pass at some speed. It was a good job for us as we fancied the right hand side which ended up being completely rubbish. Those who took the left side got a great lift on port coming into Melampus. Martin and Nick in No Handles are first around followed by the doctors, Egg & Spoon and Hell Bent. Alan and stand in crew were chased half way back up the Plym by the Police so end up way back in 5th.

Down the first run Martin and Peter are fighting for first and go off the rhumb line to let us close the gap and get an inside overlap on the doctors at South Mallard. We can’t get an overlap on Martin at Yacht Haven for first so No Handles gets a big advantage up the fetch to West Mallard and pulls out a 40m lead.

At the leeward mark No Handles decide not to cover and heads out to the right. We had a torrid time over there on the last lap so opt for left hand side out towards Jennicliffe and hit that corner bell hard (Ding ding). We get a very late shift in our favour at the last minute. It was quite sad face until that point. Martin, coming back from the right has a portion of header and maybe some advserse tide topping. Peter and Chris, third at West Mallard and on a left of middle line, duck just behind him, so we know the left is best. At the windward mark the Spoon’s got a 40m lead which extends slightly to the finish.

The Doctors round in second for the run but get over-taken by Martin for second place. Dave comes in 4th which is shame after such a blinding start but the Navy did rain on his parade.

With all the ropey weather it was nice to be out in dry weather for a challenging sail followed by top tucker at the club.