Renard Systems Brass Monkey Series at Liverpool YC

by J.Connolly on 13 Jan 2009 Liverpool Yacht Club’s 2009 racing season started on Sunday 11 January with the first Renard Systems Brass Monkey Series race.

An early start saw eleven yachts prepared to face daunting conditions: dark scudding clouds producing whirling, gusting winds of up to 26 knots from the south and a huge 9.6 metre tide piled up wintry waves. Race Officer Andy Farrell decided that conditions were suitable for racing and set a course which resulted in a great day’s sailing.

The first start resulted in a General Recall as yachts struggled to control their approach. Nine yachts got away at the second attempt. JLS ripped her main attempting to reef but was able to effect temporary repairs and managed to rejoin the race.

All classes set off on a beat to E4 with Gullmaren, acting as safety boat, Dinamite-Tee, Rebel, Daydream Believer and Ragtime 1V for Class 1 hurtled up river with Skukusa for Class 2 in close attendance and JLS fast making up lost time; She Fever with only three aboard bravely tracked the field for Class 3. Mistoffelees, Legless, Impact and Di-Rich had all retired by this stage.

As the fleets crossed over to the Garston channel mercifully the clouds cleared somewhat and the winds moderated and became a little less fluky as Dinamite -Tee led the charge round G3. Skukusa and the fast closing JLS enjoyed a great battle to G5 whilst She Fever doggedly kept going some way behind. Classes 2 and 3 shortened course at G11 and Stuart Lofthouse’s Skukusa held his lead all the way down to the finish, crossing the line some three minutes ahead of Mick Ryan's JLS and seventeen minutes ahead of Jack Hilton's She-Fever.

In class 1 Dinamite-Tee had maintained her lead, after rounding E6 all the fleet completed the race downriver with spinnakers flying. Glyn Sheffield's Dinamite -Tee took line honours, by nine minutes from Stan Edge's Rebel, followed by Jim Cartwright’s Daydream Believer and Geoff Whittaker's Ragtime.

All in all an exciting and eventful day's racing and a tribute to all who braved and attempted such trying conditions.

Renard Systems Brass Monkey Series - Time corrected results

Class 1
1st. Stan Edge’s Sigma 38 Rebel
2nd. Steve Curruther’s ½ Tonner Ragtime IV
3rd. Glyn Sheffield’s Prima 38 Dinamite-Tee

Class 2:
1st. Stuart Lofthouse’s Impala Skukusa
2nd. Mick Ryan’s Hustler 33 JLS

Class 3:
1st. Jack Hilton’s SS C32 She Fever