PR Systems and B&G Icicle Series at Royal Western Yacht Club, England - Day 2
by Keith Davies 25 Nov 2021 04:54 NZDT
21 November 2021
On Sunday the 21st of November the PR Systems and B&G Icicle series continued with races 3 and 4, with a fleet of twelve boats being greeted with sunshine and a cold, freshening northerly of around 10 knots of wind which was forecast to increase steadily throughout the morning.
Race 3 got under way to schedule at 10.30 with a clean start and Allan Meredith's Prima 38 'Alfresco' closest to the line at the pin end. With a varied fleet ranging from Ian Luscombes Impala 'Inca' as the smallest to Alfresco the largest. The course for race one was a windward leeward starting from the breakwater and heading up to melampus for two rounds.
The majority of the fleet went left up the first beat, following the Prima around for the first time by now the breeze had picked up, with now 20kts and gusts peaking near 30 timing the gybe was to be critical as Peter Rowe and his team onboard J109 'Jukyu' found to their cost firstly with a broach followed by the spinnaker ending in the water and some minor damage forcing them to retire from race 1.
As the fleet rounded the leeward mark for the first time it was 'Alfresco' being chased down by A35 'Jump n Shout' with Steve Andrew and his 'Sunfire' team closely behind, with the increase in pressure the remaining teams opted to drop early with one boat having an almighty kite wrap and was last seen heading off past the breakwater towards France at 10 knots plus, the race officials being disappointed having not submitted their wine order prior to their departure! Over the second lap the fleet became more spread with 'Jump n Shout' taking the corrected time win from 'Alfresco' and 'Sunfire' in third.
Race 4, with the breeze having settled in strength to around 16 knots the second race was set with the course being a short beat upwind to Melampus then a long run out of Plymouth Sound leaving the Breakwater to Port and down to Draystone adjacent to Rame Head followed by a short fetch across to East Tinker then a longer beat back in toward the Hoe with a short reach back into the club line in the Cattewater.
This longer course was greatly received by some of the fleet allowing boats to settle and focus on their boat speed on the various angles of the course. As expected, the largest boat 'Alfresco' took line honours but their time wasn't enough to beat Jon Harris and his team on 'Jump n Shout' taking their second win of the day. Sunfire built on their first race scoring a second. Dan Flanaghan's 'Manu' had a consistent day with two 4ths. Special mention to Birthday boy Robert Fletcher helming 'I Say Ding Dong'!
Series results can be found at www.halsail.com/Result/Public/57604