Saturday 28 September 2024 squeezed in between autumnal gales and rain to deliver a spectacular sunny day with hardly any wind. The race was scheduled to start at 14.45 to avoid interfering with Flushing Sailing Clubs Autumn Pursuit races which turned out to be an advantage as the wind was just thinking about filling in, from a north west air to a south to south west direction.
A few boats had already laid up for winter but the weather encouraged nine of the B Fleet and four of the C Fleet to drift across the start line. Several boats struggled to drift to the line including Meloris and Helen Mary. Rebecca crossed the line only to drift back over it and eventually did a restart.
The course had been set as Vilt to starboard, Black Rock to starboard, back to the gate. Although it was two rounds it was anticipated that it would be shortened at the gate.
As the fleet struggled on a broad reached to the Vilt, then the wind came in from the southwest and provided a perfect beat out to Black Rock and a run back into the Gate. As anticipated the race was shortened at the gate to finish on the Club line.
Line honours went to Robin Edwards in Rita, well apt as at the same time in Barcelona Ben Ainslie was racing for the Louis Vuitton / Americas Cup in his b’RITA’nnia, all his race boats bear the name Rita.
Prize giving was held at the host pub The Chainlocker where James the Landlord provided great hot meals for all and several bottles of Tanqueray Rum. At this event it is tradition to present Woody’s Winch, a bronze winch set on a wood plinth. It was given by Robert Woodhouse for the first wooden boat in the scratch class. Woody sailed with the infamous Toby West on the victory with the crew of Boyo,Paul and Leon Grimshaw,Dave Shone and Aubrey. They were all locals of the Chainlocker and it was very fitting that the race winner of this prize was the VICTORY.
The trophy was presented by Libba, Woody’s wife, who brought along a nostalgic photo collage of Woody on the Victory back in the late eighties.
Winners for the Cups on handicap corrections were:
B-Class C-Class
1st.Victory 2nd. Rita 3rd. Rebecca 1st. Serica 2nd. Juanita 3rd. Iris Elizabeth
