Public Forum

Sunday’s race returning from Lymington was predicted to be almost as windy but we started with a short beat to windward against the tide and then a single long downwind leg back to Chi. On the long leg some managed to carry downwind sails the whole way while others wrestled them down as the wind built. Three hours for most from Lymington to Chi which included 30 mins of beating the other way shows the speed we achieved.

The weekend’s CCRC mini-series of races included one race on Saturday and two on Sunday with many attending a sociable barbecue at Northney on the Saturday night.
Saturday’s race was appropriately BBQ sausage shaped producing a long reach (aided for most by some downwind sails) and a beat/fetch depending on how close each could get to the wind.
Sunday’s first race was a short triangle speedily executed, but the second race with more legs was shortened at the first mark as the wind had died to almost nothing – only the fastest and most persistent finished.

Wednesday was the last day of the CCRC Spring Cruise. Some went to play golf while others toured other tourist venues including the Guernsey Museum at Candie with some special exhibits. Arcadia also arrived having “seen off” the rest of the family.
That evening it was the end of cruise dinner at the Guernsey Yacht Club where we had a super meal in convivial surroundings and thanked Stuart and Judi for leading the cruise.

Today was another day for sailing onwards – this time to St Peter Port. We left with good visibility and a gentle breeze on the beam but by the time we got to Guernsey fog had descended again so we barely saw the top of the Little Russel. Sailing down the channel we saw the Swan fleet racing and watched Markova execute a perfect spinnaker gybe. Then it was into St Peter Port for some socialising while waiting for access to the marina.
That evening Egret, Gunshot and Intrepid ate on Gunshot with a meal prepared on all three boats.

Monday was a busy day in Carteret for the CCRC Cruise.
In the morning some were off to play golf while others walked to Barneville for supplies or went to the beach to make sand-castles and paddle.
In the afternoon it was the Boules tournament on a particularly challenging pitch: very smooth and sloping to one side. Finalists were Gunshot and Egret though Arcadia’s nearly three-year old set a challenging standard. The final was a tie but Gunshot then won the sudden-death play-off.
Next came an official welcome from both the Barneville-Carteret Yacht Club and the Harbour Master with drinks and speeches; then a barbecue.

Friday saw the start of the CCRC Spring Cruise with the race to Cherbourg. The start was moved from Hard to Bembridge Ledge in the hope of some more wind. A smaller than usual fleet of five yachts then headed south with spinnakers and chutes flying in the warm sun. For an hour or two we jostled for position but slowly the wind died and ETAs stretched into Sunday all retired and started motoring.
Then as we approached the shipping lanes the mist gradually thickened and the final approach to Cherbourg was with visibility of maybe 50m or less. We were all grateful for AIS, RADAR, GPS and VHF to navigate, communicate and avoid ships.
Cherbourg was busy with multiple rallies and full of Brits escaping for the long weekend.

Early Saturday there was patchy fog but this was quickly burned off for a sunny day. The start was delayed slightly to allow a sea breeze to get established and there were some controversial manoeuvres on the line but all away towards the first mark out by the shipping channel. The breeze built slowly so despite the desire from some to finish early in order to shop at Gunwharf Quay the race was hardly shortened at all. Then it was into Portsmouth, a little shopping, some drinks on the pontoon and then an excellent and sociable dinner at Portsmouth Sailing Club. Another splendid day of sailing.

Sunday saw bright blue skies again after Saturday’s anomaly of rain; and it was the CCRC Ladies’ Race where helm must be a lady.
There were 7 starters including a guest boat and at first the wind was light but it built steadily during the race.