That time provision was needed on Saturday when dozens of boats were OCS at the start but today the 98-strong fleet were given a round of applause from race officials on the Royal Yacht Squadron platform after just two boats were recalled.
"Your reward for good behaviour yesterday is a difficult 'upwind uptide'
course", Principal Race Officer Malcolm McKeag told the fleet over the radio prior to the start. In the tricky conditions, with light variable winds and a strong east flowing tide, the fleet made its way to the central Solent before heading up to Lepe Beach.
Another shocker was a general recall in Class 5 IRC which started off the RYS line. No one could remember Class 5 ever being black flagged but when they did eventually get going, just three boats over at the second attempt, they provided a striking vista, as they charged off towards Gilkicker Point at the precise moment that the SB3 spinnakers came powering through in the opposite direction behind them.
After completing their 20nm course, Cowes regular Harry Evans, the man who supplies the millions of plastic beer glasses to Cowes Yacht Haven each year, had his paws on the Victory Trophy after taking both line honours and victory on corrected time in his Swan 48 Alvine Jacobite, recording a one minute and 23 second advantage over Tontin, a brand new Joubert Nivelt 35 from Belgium owned by Wouter Borghijs.
After his triumphant start to the Week on Saturday, Magnus Wheatley made a disappointing start in Class 9 IRC today in his International H-boat Hesperus but recovered well to finish in third, conceding the Newport Citizens Cup to Richard Donald's folkboat Madelaine and the runners-up place to Philip Williams Nordic folkboat Tatterat.
Showers are being forecast overnight as a front passes through, then tomorrow it will be sunny with the chance of showers according to our weather guru Chris Tibbs. Winds will be light or moderate NW, backing W-SW and increasing 13-18. Sounds terrific.
Just as we were about to close this bulletin we received news that Josephine, racing in the XOD Class and driven by Mark Jardine, was dismasted in a collision with the Tall Ship J. R. Tolkein, a 42m gaff-topsail schooner. Her bowsprit ripped out the X-boat's backstay, leaving a buckled shroud and the boat needing a new mast.
http://www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
Sunday proved a classic as the tricky conditions thrown up by the strong flood tide and baggy breezes caused a series of upsets.The first major shock of the day was the seamless choreography that marked the start of the Laser SB3 class. After last year's problems in getting 87 boats onto the race track, Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) this year decided to allocate 25 minutes to the SB3 starting sequence to allow for general recalls.
