Rye Harbour Sailing Club (RHSC) held two races last Sunday June 7, a Cruiser Short Race – Bramley Cup R2 and a Dinghy Race Series 1.
What a fantastic day for a sail with 12-15 knots of wind blowing from a southerly direction. Out at sea, Richard Cooper as Officer of the Day (OOD), on his yacht Palamino, started the countdown at 14:40, which had all four of the cruiser racers vying for best position along the start line.
Hugh Redman, Skipper of Helena Anne, a McGruer 38 foot yacht, giving a blow by blow account of the race said “It was perfect sailing conditions for Helena Anne. Approaching the start line, we were aiming for the buoy at the end of the line, with Mallard to windward of us and going slightly faster. I wanted to squeeze Mallard out but she just managed to round the buoy ahead of me, leaving us to round up inside of her. We raced within a boats length alongside each other towards the next mark off Camber. Laying the mark ahead of Roxanne and Mallard we held our position out to the Fairway Buoy. Rounding the Fairway Buoy saw us sailing goose winged on a downwind run to the mark off Pett Level, with Mallard chasing us having set her big reaching sail. Roxanne pulled away, rounding the mark 50 metres ahead of us and with Mallard just astern we all raced for the finish line.”
Helena Anne was rewarded with 1st position, 2nd place Mallard, a Westerly Fulmar and in 3rd place Roxanne, a Jeanneau Sunshine 38.
Due to the wind direction, making it impossible for the dinghies to sail into wind and out to sea, they were towed out by The Carey Marsh, the committee boat, where they raced an Olympic Triangle Course. Once out there, the weather conditions made for a great race for the 9 dinghy sailors that took part. The Marsh family stole the day, with Will Marsh coming first in a Topper, Sharon Marsh second in a Laser Radial and Ed Marsh in third place in a Topper.
The day was rounded off with a successful BBQ at the club house where both dinghy and cruiser sailors got together to exchange sailing experiences of the day’s sail with other members and their guests.
Photo: RHSC