Liverpool Yacht Club's Late Autumn Series - Race report

by Andy Farrell on 10 Nov 2009 Liverpool Yacht Club's Bluepoint Construction Late Autumn Series race report.

An impressive fleet of twenty three yachts ventured out onto the River Mersey for the first race in the Bluepoint Construction Late Autumn Series. The crisp, dry day was a welcome change after the turbulent past week or so. With it however came fluky and somewhat chilling autumnal winds. Six Knots from the North was forecast and was duly delivered. Both Class 1 and Two yachts were set an ambitious course by Race Officer Paul Boycott with some excellently planned shortening positions available if required. The LYC flagship Gulmaren was as ever present, escorting the fleet around the course under the control of Captain Dicko and our Commodore.

Both Class 1 and 2 were sent down the Eastham channel at first with a spectacular spinnaker start seeing yachts of all shapes and sizes literally on top of one another as the flood tide lightening the wind even further on this dead run. Both classes intermingled with the asymmetric boats zipping between the dead runners, and a handful of skippers approaching from the Liverpool side with higher pressure. A fleet of yachts broke away with Mistoffelees, Quattro, Musketeer and DI rich behind the faster Prima 38’s. Ulula was breathtaking as she rode the pressure gibing through the smaller boats on the reaches. At E2 the class 2 yachts peeled off for the tight reach to G7, it was a tight call for a kite; it seemed white sails were the wisest option however. Class 1 continued down to E4 before a similar reach to G9. Mighty Max went whites with Another Nods choosing the kite. As the yachts neared the Liverpool shore the breeze shifted east and some boats were caught in a wind hole with the tide washing them down stream away from the intended port rounding.

Great to see a growing Sigma 33 fleet here at Liverpool YC again and the newest yacht Saphoenix was mixing it up with the old timers of Magic Moments (sporting some Flash 2 look-alikes), Quattro and Musketeer. The position changes were numerous and really showed us all what we are missing when it comes to one design racing. Another new yacht on the seen was Trilobite showing signs of more new talent and competition to the fleet, as well as a rooky (yet obviously talented) new helmsman on Di Rich.

In Class 1 Neil Thomas on Mighty Max was so pleased with the performance they broke out the rum and relaxed, only to find Nod’s and Sleeper sailing another outstanding race capitalise and duly catch them. Daydream believer also revelled in the flatter conditions and chased the leading pack hard up the beat and subsequent reach back across to E4.

After a shortened course at G7, Nod’s took line honours in class 1 and Musketeer pipped Quattro to the finish in the hard fought Sigma battle. Corrected time saw Sleeper First, The F Word second and Daydream Believer third in class 1. Class 2 was won by Musketeer, Quattro second and DI Rich third.

Liverpool Yacht Club
Bluepoint Construction Late Autumn - 01

Class 1
Position Yacht Name Corrected Time
1 Sleeper 7201
2 The F Word 7220
3 Daydream Believer 7341
4 Another Nods 7515
5 Jenevieve 7523
6 Mighty Max 7580
7 Ulula 8130

Class 2
Position Yacht Name Corrected Time
1 Musketeer 5243
2 Quattro 5340
3 Di Rich 5445
4 Magic Moments 5569
5 Black Magic (provisional) 5637
6 Tango 5639
7 Clarevouyant 5794
8 Skukusa 5846
9 Saphoenix 5870
10 Mistoffolees 5931
11 Legless 6093
12 Trilobite 6226
13 Catch 32 6313
14 J.L.S. 6828
15 Pania 6846
16 Artful Dodger Retired