CCYC Sailing Activity

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December 2007

After the hectic start to the season with the Flying Fifteen Diamond Jubilee regatta we had a short break and then moved onto the Etchell Southern Area  Championship. This was a well supported event as it was a warm up for their world championship.

After that we had high hopes for our Six Metre Regatta in the middle of July prior to the RYS Metre Regatta and Six Metre World Championship. The weather was awful that weekend and maybe that is why we only had 11 boats starting including both modern and classic boats. It was a shame as that was the event I had set aside to re-validate my RYA Race Officer qualification but I needed about 30 boats to convince them I am worth it! However, they are beautiful boats and it almost a privilege to be Race Officer for them.

As part of the RYS Metre Regatta the CCYC played host to the 2.4 Metres. Fifteen boats were based at the club. The weather was not kind and fortunately Mike Brinton realised the likely outcome so he managed to get enough races in on the one day that racing was possible to get a series result.

We then moved on to Cowes Week where for the first time CCYC held the Chief Race Officer position for Committee Boat starts through Mike Brinton. The team did a great job and got their fleets away every day which was a higher success rate than their counterparts on the RYS line. It was not without its frustrations though and tempers were raised a little when 'Panthera' got itself wrapped around 'Zenobia's' anchor line on the Thursday. We should be grateful to Mike and the team as their efforts do produce a good income for the club. Next year Debbie's priority is to get a CCYC Cowes Week team photo for the Ark!

After Cowes Week we ran the Dragon Jubilee Regatta from the RCYC shoreline for eight boats, with two races per day. A consequence of this has been that the Cowes clubs have now recognised the possible benefit of running two races per day from a shoreline so have included this as an option for 2008 for the Keelboat Regattas.

One feature of the Cowes season has been the low turnouts for the Red Funnel Regattas and the Cowes Keelboat Regattas for all Cowes clubs. Even the Darings, whilst still being the most numerous, were well down on previous seasons. Fortunately the Six Metres had reasonable numbers which helped to rescue things a bit.

The Autumn Series has been changed to racing every other weekend to try and concentrate the numbers. This has proved successful - if only the weather would cooperate!! The first weekend was lost with virtually no wind. The second just managed to squeeze a race in from the shoreline. The third weekend again saw light winds and we just managed to get two races in, in about six knots of breeze maximum. 'Bertie' won both races in the Sonar fleet. 'Black 'n Blue' sneaked a win in the only Flying Fifteen race.

Finally don't forget the Boxing Day Race. Let's have some good fancy dress. You will be rewarded with mulled wine and mince pies and a prize for the best costume.

And if you need to blow away the cobwebs on New Years Day come down and try to set the best time in the Bramble Scramble - best time to South Bramble and back in a Sonar. Boats provided courtesy of the Sonar fleet. Don't be shy, the 'Ayanami' crew including yours truly managed second best last year.

If you would like to come and join the Race Team in 2008 please get in touch with Debbie or me, we would welcome your assistance.

Finally I would like to thank Debbie McDonald for picking up the reins as Sailing Secretary this year. We (the Sailing Committee) do need a bit of organising (but not too much) and she has worked us out and pitched it just right.

Let's hope for better weather in 2008. 

Mike Dixon

Rear Commodore Sailing