Fast Lines Half Ton Classics Cup in Cowes - Midweek Update
by Pit de Jonge 16 Aug 2022 06:32 PDT
14-19 August 2022
Even the Valhalla of sailing does not escape the gigantic windless heat bubble that overwhelms western Europe. Nevertheless, the RORC competition organization managed to put in an exciting windward leeward series on the first day of the Fast Lines Half Ton Classics Cup.
By noon, in the period of slack water, the seventeen Half Tonners started for a windward - leeward track of 1.1 nautical miles. The race would benefit from the weaker current, as the wind would never exceed 10 knots.
Immediately the fleet split into a group that steered towards the middle of the Solent and one that would stay closer to shore. The left option was the most profitable, despite the slight countercurrent. It was good to be careful to clap to the windward buoy at the right time and then without hesitation to get the spinnaker right on it.
Things went a bit smoother on one boat than on the other. At the Norwegian Half Moon (Martin Kamperhaug) they had to get the job done with three. Their option to keep to the right didn't do any good either.
The Irish King One (team Patrick Boardman) built up a solid lead to stay ahead of Quokka (GBR - team Peter Rutter) and Harmony (IRL team John Swan). Superhero (GBR - team Tony Stochek) was first over the start, but still lost places.
For a while it looked like there would be a second series, but the wind fell like a block and the race was called off after a false start.
More to come in the following days.
Event website: halftonclassicscup.com