Page 38 - Yachter Autumn 2021

38 RACING REPORTS
Next in the Double Handed Series was
to be the Island Double on 19th June.This
is normally our most popular race and this year was no exception. For this race the weather gods decided on new tactics - the forecast wind was 5 knots, if we were lucky increasing to around 10 knots later in the day. This left some doubt as to whether
it would be possible for boats to get right round the island in daylight.To cover situations like this we ask competitors to take their times South of St Catherine’s Point and East of Bembridge Ledge on
their way round so that we have the option to shorten the race and get a result even if the full circuit is not possible. In the event almost all of those who turned out made it round in between nine and eleven hours. Edward Mockridge’s JPK 1010, Elaine, again came first in IRC class 1, Paul Dunstan’s Folkboat, Mandarin, led IRC class 2, and Ian Ward’s Moody 29, Bedouin, led the RSYC class 3, all of them by a comfortable margin.
As I write our Summer Series has just begun and we are in the final throws of preparing for the Poole Bar Double. Cowes Week starts at the end of July and we will be fielding a full team of volunteers running theWhite Group CommitteeVessel line.
We really look forward to step four of
the COVID roadmap when we should
once again be able to congregate in larger numbers.This will allow us to run a full prize giving once again at lunchtime on 13th
November.We have been encouraged by the number of members racing with us this year - more than double the number before the pandemic - with a number of our frequent race entrants becoming members and with the introduction of racing for those with boats in the Beaulieu River.
If you haven’t tried racing with us yet why not join in and find out what you’re
missing? If you fancy helping to run our races, we have a team of existing volunteers who will welcome you with open arms, start you on the simpler tasks, and train you on the job. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn new skills.
Dave Martin Captain of Racing