RORC Easter Regatta: day 1

March 25, 2016

John Coffey and Laura Dillon are the Irish delegation this Easter on Winsome. Leen, Harry, Floris, Joost N, Herman, Boj and Joost H all gathered in Cowes this Thursday to go sailing this Easter. Our first races of the season. We were welcomed in the UK with some typical liquid English sunshine and dark grey skies.

What a difference the next day was, blue skies and sun. What else could one wish for? Wel, for starters wind. We had 4-5 knots. After hours of postponement the wind picked up and would build to 17 knots.

We sailed 3 races this afternoon. Four classes got of to a more or less clean start. Laura positioned us perfectly on the line each time. Having a good start is half your race we learned afterwards in the debrief. Being the fastest yacht in our class and having a good start proved successful.

The windward – leewards were sailed with little mistakes and we finished well in front of our class the first two races. During the third race however, the wind became less and less, making it a struggle for Winsome to show a clean pair of heels to the rest of the fleet. We were lee bowed by a smaller yacht within 5 minutes after the start (good move by them, less fortunate for us.. ) and we misjudged the windward mark.

The first two races we finished first, the third race we finished fourth on corrected time. This gives us a 2nd place overall at the moment. Very satisfying for our first races this season. Tomorrow the wind is predicted to increase, 25 knots and more. Because I know my mother reads this blog as well, I will not mention the gusts. I hope we get some racing in tomorrow (and a new blog).

Bon vents,

Joost H.