Page 26 - Yachter Spring 2023

26 RACING REPORTS
RSYC 2022 CHARITY PURSUIT
The forecast for 6th November 2022 was not promising – or rather it was promising to deliver what we didn’t want! Although the day would start with safe, if possibly rather wet conditions, it would later bring heavy downpours associated with strong gusts.There was uncertainty about when, but not if, the gusts would arrive. Because of the uncertainty we had issued two sets of start times for this pursuit race – one for a 90 minute race and one for 150 minutes.
The intrepid race management team assembled at OceanVillage at 08.00 and set off into Southampton Water to prepare. Arriving at Netley buoy we found a fairly steady wind from the South West and clear conditions.A good start.
After some debate we took the decision to run the shorter 90 minute race and not risk getting caught in the likely unsafe conditions later.A course was set and the RIB dispatched to lay marks.
Most of the competitors decided to brave the weather and duly arrived in time for their starts, which were spread over 13 minutes, with Barrie Martin’s Nicholson one off, A Day at the Races, the first away at 10.05.
For a pursuit race it is important to finish the race at the planned time, since finishing early gives unfair advantage to the slower boats and finishing late advantages the faster