Brass Monkey Series underway at Liverpool YC and Tranmere SC

by James Connolly on 19 Jan 2012 Brass Monkey Series, organised by Liverpool Yacht Club and Tranmere Sailing Club and sponsored by Renard Security Systems, is currently underway.

Week one: 8th January 2012
An early start to our 2012 racing saw 12 yachts out on the water; six Class 1 and six Class 2.

A big welcome to Adam Kyffin and Jon Oliver and crew in their new Corby 29, Easy Tiger; great to see the fast improving Prima 38 of the Chiswell family Diva out, and Dave Gray’s Sadler 25 Kahu, stepping up a grade from the Venture Class.

Race Officer Richard Booth set a good course for both fleets in light to moderate westerly conditions who, after a perfect start, quickly disappeared into the mist at Dingle!

The race team made its way to Otterspool where visibility eventually became slightly better to reveal Mighty Max, hotly pursued by Daydream Believer, taking maximum benefit of his asymmetric, with Easy Rider, Bada Bing, Diva and Ragtime not far adrift as the fleet rounded E2.

Class 2, saw Stu Lofthouse’s Impala Skukusa flying in the lead with the sigma 33’s Magic Moments, Quattro uncharacteristically off the pace as the fleet rounded G7; Quilla and Mistoffelees a little way back with Kahu who, having overshot Dingle and retired, continued on the course for practice (a good attitude).

At the finish line Skukusa gained a well deserved win and line honours from Magic Moments and Quattro; Mighty Max holding off a spirited challenge from Daydream Believer by the tiny margin of nine seconds!

A fine first attempt by Easy Tiger in third place, just rigged only a few hours before the race! Shades of things to come?
So, Brass Monkey off to a great start with a real buzz in the bar after racing.

Week two: 15th January 2012
Today saw 15 yachts through the Liverpool Marina lock into an afternoon of brilliant blue skies and a steady south easterly, strength 12-15 knots; add to this two challenging class courses set by the crew of Daydream Believer and the day was set for some great entertainment.

An exciting start brought the usually immaculate line man Neil Thomas on Mighty Max early over the line ( out of control as it turned out, all over Bada Bing, because of equipment failure) and Adam Kyffin and Jon Oliver’s new Corby 29 close behind (no excuse; misheard the start sequence countdown!).

Away went Nods, Diva and Bada Bing into an early Class 1 lead; Quattro, Musketeer, Skukusa and Quilla leading for Class 2 from Saphoenix, Mistoffelees, Tango, Clarevouyant and Kahu.

Meanwhile, Magic Moments, lurking unaccountably somewhere over by Tranmere, informed Race Control that he too was a premature starter, returned to the start area and set off in pursuit.

Class 1 hurtled round G3, great beat to G9 and back across river to E2 and Dingle, difficult with wind over tide. Rounding Dingle Richard Booth had established a commanding lead over Diva, Bada Bing and Easy Tiger, now in contention. At this stage Neil called a halt as Mighty Max developed further trouble (Neil: don’t ask!!)

Meanwhile a terrific dog fight between Quattro and Musketeer developed, Steve finally gaining the advantage after a horrendous broach by the Inman crew, while behind , Saphoenix, Skukusa Mistoffelees set the race alight as Magic Moments having made tremendous ground up joined in the contest round G9.

Quilla little off the pace with Tango and the menacing Clarevouyant sailing a great race; Kahu at this stage looking a likely retiree.

Back with Class 1, Richard swept Nods to what seemed an unbeatable finish to gain line honours from Diva, Easy Tiger and Bada Bing, but today belonged to Adam and Jon on corrected time with a first win in Easy Tiger.

Class two produced much exciting and skilful sailing by everyone today; Quattro back to his best taking line honours by some distance; great competition between the Sigma 33’s, Skukusa and the ever improving Quilla and Mistoffelees; not much light between Tango and of course the immaculately sailed Clarevouyant with a special mention to our IRC newcomer Kahu who stuck it out to the end to get a well earned result.

Roll on next week! Start time 09.00 GMT.

Results Weeks 1 and 2:

Week 1 Class 1
Pos	Boat Name	Hours	Mins	Secs	TCF
1	Mighty Max	1	39	33	1.072
2	Daydream Believer	1	47	11	0.997
3	Easy Tiger	1	49	33	0.986
4	Bada Bing	1	52	15	0.992
5	Ragtime 1V	1	59	20	0.936
6	Diva	1	57	43	1.071
Week 1 Class 2
Pos	Boat Name	Hours	Mins	Secs	TCF
1	Skukusa	1	29	16	0.882
2	Magic Moments	1	29	59	0.915
3	Quattro	1	32	59	0.915
4	Quilla	1	53	17	0.889
5	Mistoffelees	1	52	46	0.911
RTD	Kahu				0.81
Week 2 Class 1
Pos	Boat Name	Hours	Mins	Secs	TCF
1	Easy Tiger	1	41	59	0.986
2	Bada Bing	1	42	47	0.992
3	Another Nods	1	35	31	1.071
4	Diva	1	41	12	1.071
RTD	Mighty Max				1.072
Week 2 Class 2
Pos	Boat Name	Hours	Mins	Secs	TCF
1	Clarevouyant	1	52	32	0.777
2	Quattro	1	37	50	0.915
3	Skukusa	1	44	13	0.882
4	Musketeer	1	41	38	0.915
5	Saphoenix	1	43	22	0.915
6	Quilla	1	46	8	0.892
7	Magic Moments	1	44	3	0.915
8	Mistoffelees	1	44	51	0.911
9	Tango	1	52	36	0.849
10	Kahu	2	25	40	0.81