Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

2015 Chester Race Week – Racers undeterred by foggy conditions

by meltwaterpress.com on 14 Aug 2015
Poohsticks, skippered by Colin Mann (Lunenburg Yacht Club), races tothe win in the Alpha 2 fleet. - 2015 Chester Race Week www.vic.gov.au
2015 Chester Race Week – Depending on where they were racing today on Mahone Bay, racers either had great conditions, or not-so-great conditions - but they all experienced a 'white wall' of fog. Regardless, the Chester Race Week race committee pulled off another fantastic day, showcasing their world-class race management skills with multiple races on all courses.

'There can be some challenges associated with racing here,' said Principal Race Officer Liz Shaw. 'Where other races would have canceled or postponed in such a heavy fog, our racers went out, managed to find their marks and came back - some of them without any electronics, sophisticated or otherwise. I admire them for being so tough.'

Alpha fleet got in two races, a short five-mile windward to leeward race, and an 18-mile race with lots of reaches and runs. Course conditions were good, with steadier, more-consistent winds with an average speed of about nine knots. Despite the fog, the boats were great on their starts, and had very close racing around the course.

The One-Design fleet also enjoyed good conditions, and despite a couple of general recalls, managed to get in four races. In the J/24 fleet, Ian Dawson (Bedford Basin Yacht Club) took first on Lightning McQueen; Jay Nadelson (Chester Yacht Club) took the top spot in IOD class on Elida.

Sonar class continues to be a tight race, with Henry Demone (Lunenburg Yacht Club), once again taking top honours on Bella Rena. First time Chester Race Week participants, Rodrick Jabin and the crew of Ramrod (Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, Maryland) had four bullets, beating out hometown favourite Rob Gale (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron) in the Farr 30 class.

'We're having a great time,' said Ramrod crewmember Ian Coleman. 'It's beautiful here and so picturesque; it's like sailing in a Wyeth painting.'

Overall, a great day of sailing. As one racer put it, 'It was an awesome day, fast racing, fun, and friends - it's Chester Race Week at its best.'





Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

McIntyre Mini Globe Race fleet battles Pacific
In historic 4,300-mile test of endurance Solo Sailors Face Doldrums, Equipment Failures and Avian Invaders in Unprecedented Small Boat Challenge - week five of leg 2
Posted on 30 Apr
Don't Risk Your Keys on the Water!
Keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box Don't risk taking your keys on the water... keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box.
Posted on 30 Apr
21st Sandberg PalmaVela kicks off tomorrow
With the spectacle of the Maxis in Palma Over one hundred teams representing 19 nationalities will gather in the Bay of Palma for the first major multi-class event of the season: the 21st Sandberg PalmaVela. The impressive Maxis will be the first to take the stage.
Posted on 30 Apr
52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Cup Day 1
Light winds prove insufficient to start racing Although the 11 boat fleet went afloat until mid-afternoon, crews filled with hope and anticipation, the wind refused to build enough for racing to take place on the first day of the new 52 SUPER SERIES season at the 52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Cup.
Posted on 30 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 11
The Battle of the Leaders Now past the halfway point and sailing through the heart of the Atlantic, the competitors in the Transat Paprec are still locked in an intense battle. A windless zone expected later this week is drawing everyone's attention and forcing tough decisions.
Posted on 30 Apr
International 5o5 Euro Cup Leg 1 at Saint Raphael
Sailors from seven countries descended on the South of France 505's from seven countries descended on St Raphael in the South of France for event 1 of the 505 2025 Euro Cup circuit. Many boats arrived early to knock off the winter rust and enjoy the warmer weather and good food the area has to offer.
Posted on 30 Apr
Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe.
Posted on 30 Apr
Antigua Race Week Day 3
Superb racing delivered Sailors ranging from newcomers to veterans of multiple America's Cup campaigns enjoyed Caribbean sailing at its best in today's racing at Antigua Sailing Week, with lots of sun and moderate tradewinds of 10-12 knots.
Posted on 30 Apr
Saint-Tropez set 52 SUPER SERIES season opener
Crioula and Vayu won today's short, sharp warm-up practice races In a light breeze which reached 10kts at the most - a foretaste of what is forecast for the coming days on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez - Crioula and Vayu won today's short, sharp warm-up practice races.
Posted on 29 Apr
La Larga comes to a close
With the prize-giving ceremony at the RCNP The Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) held the prize-giving ceremony for La Larga this Tuesday, 29 April, at 19h00.
Posted on 29 Apr