Nordic Folkboat Christchurch Ledge Race
by Chris Baldwick 18 Jul 2016 17:04 AEST
16 July 2016
Padfoot finishes 3rd in the Folkboat Christchurch Ledge Race © Chris Baldwick
Ten Nordic Folkboats crossed the starting line for the race to Christchurch ledge, which is part of the West Solent Folkboat series.
With a moderate southwesterly breeze the fleet had the last hour or so of a helpful ebb tide, all boats choosing to beat over the Island shore to gain the benefit afforded by the deeper water and so gain most benefit from the last of the ebb tide.
The dash to get through the Hurst Castle narrows before the tide turned was successful. Crackerjack led the way followed closely by Padfoot, Samphire, Bonnie and Riot.
Within the hour, most boats it made past the North Head buoy, where Crackerjack was well in the lead followed by Padfoot and Scaramouche with Samphire and Bonnie to windward on a parallel course to the Christchurch Ledge buoy. With a confused chop in Christchurch bay, Crackerjack and Samphire showed mastery of the conditions being first and second around the windward mark at Christchurch Ledge after a beat of just over 2 hours, with Padfoot third.
A glorious spinnaker run then ensued back to the finish line in the Lymington River, with only Bonnie managing to move up a place with some devious manouevres at the river entrance!
At the finish line the first three boats were Crackerjack, Samphire and Padfoot. After nearly three and a half hours of classic Folkboats racing, only 6 minutes separated the top five finishers.