Crouch Yacht Club Summer Series - Race 2
by Phillip Harbott 12 Jul 2016 06:40 UTC
10 July 2016
Just three boats started in a gusty 20 knot southerly breeze. The tide was still ebbing, so the fleet headed up river to Cliff and Canewdon twice before finishing on the way down to Number 3.
On the gun, Mantra, the Aphrodite 101 owned by Phillip Harbott got a great start, with Duncan Haley's Corby 29, Double Trouble also near the line, but with less boat speed having had to sail along the line to avoid being OCS. Sapphire, Martin and Kirsty Brooks' Dealer a little way down river, off the line. Double Trouble got through the lower rated Mantra and headed up river in the lead.
Duncan led throughout the race, that was filled with wind shifts and sail changes, Mantra and Sapphire enjoyed close tussles, and the higher rated Sapphire didn't manage to get through them until cliff on the first lap, but Mantra got back through her on the beat to Canewdon. However Sapphire managed to get back through and to round Canewdon ahead.
On the run to Black Point, Mantra sailed over them, but as the wind became shier at the bend in the river, spinnakers were dropped. At Number 13, Mantra were still ahead of Sapphire, and all the time, Double Trouble kept clear air and water, keeping her first place. However, when Mantra rounded Canewdon for the second time, they were saving their time on Double Trouble. Sapphire had got back through Mantra on the second beat from Cliff to Canewdon and stayed in front until the run back to Black Point, when Phillip Harbott in Mantra got through again. On the fetch, Martin got ahead again, and although at times, Mantra got close, Sapphire finished a couple of minutes ahead on the water. Double Trouble took line honours, with Sapphire second, and Mantra just behind. On corrected time, Duncan Haley's Double Trouble won by just 36 seconds from Mantra, with Sapphire third. Double Trouble and Mantra now each have a first in the series.