F=ma Enterprise Report 2012-07-18

Especially during nightmares about physics exam I recall that Force = mass x acceleration. So for the same gust of wind a light crew will accelerate faster than a boat with any pies aboard. Peter and Alan put this to great effect tonight to secure their win in Different Shade.

Wind: West-North-Westerly. Force 5.
Course: Ash, South Winter, North East Winter, Liberty Yachts

The fleet were tightly bunched at the club end of the line for the start into a blustery WNW breeze coming off the Hoe and down the Tamar. Peter and Alan made an audacious start by running the line on port and tacking with 5 seconds to go in position A. Different Shade lead Egg & Spoon and No Handles off the line towards Drakes Island.

At Ash the Spoon had closed down on Different Shade but it was time for Peter to use the F=ma to best effect. Peter and Alan pulled out a 30m lead by South Winter by planing through the lulls to the gybe mark.

By North East Winter, Martin had closed up so the 3 lead boats were in close company for the run to Liberty Yachts.

Up the second beat a trip into Lions Den bay did not pay for Peter, and with Spoon was using more mass on the rail to power through the chop, we closed the gap to nearly cross Peter by Ash.

Down the broad reach to South Winter Peter again pulled out another 30 metres. In a bid to get back in front the Spoon went for a tight gap between a re-righted Pico and North East Winter to close down Different Shade once again. However Peter and Alan managed to stay ahead and pipped the Spoon to the line by a couple of seconds.

We really enjoyed the blasting around but there were plenty of capsizes in other fleets. Not to name names but Hugh Spencer went swimming. There was also a head injury, requiring an ambulance to be called. Nothing too serious I understand but putting safety boats and line crew to capacity and requiring the race to be shortened. Lucky for Different Shade I say, we wuz robbed of the chance to harry them for 2 more laps.