The Valmadre Winter Offshore Series - The Mayflower Race

by Rick Steuart on 22 Jul 2014 The Valmadre Winter Offshore Series - Mayflower Race - Fremantle Sailing Club, A great day on the water with Race Officer Keith Charlwood of FSC taking command of the start with the tried and true offshore start team behind him.

The boats were bouncing around a little and there was no room for smart maneuvers without leeway given. A building nor-easter of 10 to 12 knots was tipped to swing into the North with a storm brewing for the afternoon.

Good numbers had the racetrack well filled and the boats were crowding up on the start line on a course one with a large number pushing the limit at the corner of the start boat to the point that a barge buoy was set behind the start boat to remind the hopefuls that it would be a good idea to keep clear. Minutes before the start, a slight bump between two Div. One boats reminded us of the urgency that was felt and with Div. One and Two lining up together, it was going to be a frantic start line.

And so it proved to be...... A general recall was sounded as at least half a dozen and may be more poured over the line. Trevor Taylor's Optimus Prime and Rob Thomas' Finistere were in the mix as was Rob Halverson's Giddy Up and I've no doubt that some at the bottom end were over, but they were shadowed by those in front of us. Murmurs of a black flag were heard, but disregarded as the next start was orderly when they stretched out across the line and took off toward the windward mark. I was lucky to get a great shot of the twin rudder Finot Conq, Surfer Rosa helmed by David Kay hiking over toward the beach.

Some of the boats heading out to Fairway after the top turning buoy, tried popping spinnakers up but only the brave kept them flying and the wise pulled them down, given the example set by Tony Mitchell's TP52 Calm as she tried, failed and doused the spinnaker shortly after.