RC1000 class training day at the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth
by Keith Davies 19 Apr 2021 03:34 AEST
17 April 2021
On Saturday the 17th April the RC1000 class kicked off their season in Plymouth with a training day hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club. Unfortunately due to Covid relaxations delaying the launch and preparations for some teams, it meant that only 5 made to to the start line, with one team stating they needed practice before being able to attend a training day!
With eager conversation on the class WhatsApp group in the week leading up to the training, including spurious chat about fitness regimes, the fleet of five was welcomed by a glorious morning on Plymouth Sound except for one major contributor: the wind!
Once in the middle of Plymouth Sound the RWYC race officer Keith Davies, assisted by his wife Nicola, were confronted with a 2 knots westerly breeze and the AP was flown while awaiting the forecast 7-8 kts Southerly to arrive. The mark-laying rib manned by Jerry Lock and Steve Andrew was detailed south of the breakwater in the hope that there was a stable breeze further south; by this time a slightly stronger breeze from the West had built, and the race team set up for a westerly windward / leeward course just as the AP was due to be dropped. Jump N Shout (the class Chairman's A35) radioed to advise of a shift in breeze, it was now an Easterly!
The Race management team quickly reset and fired off two 15 minute single lap races in under Jennycliff to get the day under way with a slight pause to allow for the hurriedly dropped spinnakers to be repacked! The first start showed that it had been a long winter with all boats cautious on the approach and being a little line-shy. A quick third single-lap race was started even though a southerly breeze was slowly progressing across the Sound towards the committee boat.
Following a brief pause for the now stable 8kt Southerly to fill in and stabilise, and to rotate the course again we were ready to go again. With a build in the breeze there was an increase in confidence from the five crews - all pushing for the line, resulting in a general recall. The re-run saw a much better result and Adam James' Blackjack led its way around the course with 'Altura' and 'I Say Ding Dong' overlapped for the duration of the run. To end the day, the course was extended to two laps to enable the crews to get into a longer race mode. A good day was had by all and many commented on the well-needed shakedown to start the year. It was clear from the finishing orders throughout the day that it will certainly be a close season in the RC1000 class.
The Royal Western look forward to welcoming back the RC1000 for three regattas throughout the season. Many thanks to all who assisted today, and to Class supporters PR Systems Marine Electronics, Ullman Sails, Paul Gibbins Photography, Allspars, Freshwave IT, Plym YC and RWYC.