Liverpool Yacht Club Brass Monkey Series Week 5

by Andy Farrell on 7 Mar 2011 Liverpool Yacht Club Brass Monkey Series Brass Monkey Series.

After the emotional visit of HMS Liverpool in February, the Mersey was again privileged this week by the arrival of HMS Campbeltown for her last ever visit to the river where she was built (Type 22 Frigate built at Lairds and completed in 1989). It is always an honour to sail the Mersey with a Naval ship in Port. Today however, LYC enjoyed a much more hands on approach with the Royal Navy as four senior crew members joined our Class 1 Yachts. A great honour for LYC and the boats and crews concerned.

The SW wind coupled with the strong flood saw the fleet of 12 Yachts (hopefully others are all preparing for the busy times ahead) attack a gallant course set by the crew of Mistofflees. A beat to the rarely used Bromborough for Class 1 on a strong flood should be no challenge for our normally capable racers?. Surely we would rise to the occasion to show out honoured guests just how we do it at LYC! Seemingly not. A rare spectacle indeed to see Rebel & Badabing OCS, Mighty Max part company with the headsail and a host of other 'Operator Errors' during the busy legs between the early Garston Marks. Another Nod’s with Captain Keri Harris onboard (A keen performance dinghy sailor and a Mini Transat Owner) set the early pace. The normal match racing spectacle between the Primas and Ulula was lacking as Nods pushed on ahead. It seemed all vessels showed signs of promise only to be broken by rare mistakes as the taxing course tested crews.

Class 2 were tasked with a similar course with Quattro setting the early pace with a well sailed race. Tango and Impact were in a close contest throughout as was Legless until a spectacular broach left them, well slightly legless!!

Back to the real race of the day and it was Captain Keri with the greatest raid of all, showing victory through strength Victoria Fortes Sequitur ** with Mighty Max (Lieutenant Commander Matt Reynolds) and Ulula (Lieutenant Sam Goose) now starting to fill in the void behind. Daydream Believer, showing some exquisite a-symmetric reaching pulled past Bada Bing (Lieutenant Commander Peter Beanland) at Dukes. Bada bing conceded to let Stan Edge in his Sigma 38 Rebel 'edge' past them at Midway, but managed to pull back a narrow lead on the downwind leg. On the Run home Ulula had an unfortunate Spinnaker wrap and were forced to retire. The excellent Ragtime sailing a disciplined race against Seaker managed to stay in touch with the faster handicapped boats and seek their rewards on corrected time.

HMS Campbeltown Results:
1st Captain Keri – Another Nod’s (much to the delight & relief of his crew!)
2nd Peter Beanland - Bada Bing
3rd Matt Reynolds - Mighty Max
4th Sam Goose – Ulula.

** HMS Campbeltown is synonymous as being involved in the greatest raid of all. The ships motto is Victoria Fortes Sequitur – Victory Through Strength.