China Club Challenge 2015 - stand by to stand by

by Al Skinner on 21 Sep 2015 If the first two days of the China Club Challenge Match Qualifiers had been frustrating then the final day took things to a new level with an overcast sky making the arrival of the sea breeze less likely. After waiting for the wind to settle – well, what there was of it! - the PRO set things in motion only to have to give three toots at the first attempt. Second time around the fleet were a little better behaved and off they went with the wind seekers in the fleet at a distinct advantage.

The breeze steadily clocked left to the extent that the ideal world would have produced a course change. But with the wide spread of experience in the fleet, the back markers were going upwind on leg one as the leaders rounded the leeward mark. In fact, the breeze went round so far there were boats sailing on opposing legs with gennakers up. The already feeble breeze then started to die, leaving most of the fleet drifting on the tide with only the first seven boats of the 30-boat fleet recording a finish. The usual suspects.

Then the big man upstairs decided to switch off the wind entirely, leaving the fleet drifting back and forth patiently and hopefully. The organiser’s RIB buzzed back and forward with the lunch boxes, but that was the highlight in the middle of the day.
As the 1500 deadline for the last warning signal approached, a few dark patches started to appear and coalesce - marks were dropped in the water again, and a sequence entered. A combination of a windward going flood tide, light breeze and an over-eager fleet produced a general recall followed by yet another, and with just 15 minutes to go the next sequence included the black flag at four minutes, accompanied by audible groans from the fleet. It didn’t stop all the pushers - seven boats had their race curtailed by the umpire as they approached the top mark.

The wind had only been playing with the event up to this point, and now started to shut down completely. Firstly there was an ‘S’ flag from the race committee, but with only two boats likely to finish (leaving 28 DNFs), reluctantly there was no option but to give three horns and raise the N over A signal. Better to have tried and seen the wind die than not to have tried at all.

The regatta concluded with the podium being filled by:
1. Old Boys Dream Team
2. Sea Blue
3. Hero Racing Team

So, 185 competitors, 30 boats, 8 nations and 8 races run in what were challenging conditions for competitors and organisers alike, the 11th China Club Challenge Match once again grew a little in quality and reach.

The top 16 teams return to Xiamen in six weeks’ time for the second half of the event, the Match Racing. Different racing skills, different racing rules. On past record, significantly more combative. Initial seeding determined by the final positions in the fleet racing. The Umpire team of Rountree (NZL), Boberg (NZL), Skinner (GBR) and Sakai (GBR) return to police the teams who already know that they won’t get away with anything untoward. Remember: ‘no flag, no foul’ and with only two boats at a time to observe there will be even less chance of escaping the steely gaze of the Umpires.

All back to Xiamen in November.