And so to the last race of the 2023/24 keelboat racing season at HYC, pending a re-sail of the Commodore’s Cup, the Man Overboard consistency race was well attended with 15 boats turning out. Conditions were challenging with an easterly breeze that fluctuated in direction and strength adding to the impost of the man overboard retrieval process. As the only club that still retains such a race, HYC contributes to the ongoing safety skill development of skippers and crews, albeit a bucket and fender as the victim.

The last-race-scramble for points and a trophy was evident with a potential starboard/port infringement on the start-line in division three, an early start requiring a re-start for one yacht in division two and kites set for the short run to the channel marker just beyond the breakwater. There was more than one opportunity for the MOB retrieval, both for the required upwind and downwind legs and a couple of yachts chose not to fly the kite, sacrificing speed for ease of retrieval.

In division one Bad Habits (Ian Holder), Sophia (Bruce Utting) and Perle crossed the finish line in that order however on handicap it was a 39-second win to Perle (John Bird) from Bad Habits and Sophia just 2-seconds behind them in third place.

Ray Murphy on Pinta in division two had plenty of time to re-start and win on handicap by a big margin from Volant (Emille Janssen, John Ball, Kevin Meta and Frank Hagemann) with Farrouk (Des and Gail Riley) in third place. Covert Operation (Bart Brouwer) set fastest time without using the spinnaker with Farrouk crossing a minute behind them and a minute ahead of Volant. It wasn’t to be a fairy-tale-welcome-back race for Blue Chip (Keith and Deborah Fisk) who finished fifth but great to see them going for it with the kite flying at every opportunity.

In division three, Chris Blackney on Vaya Con Dios held off John Akers’ Lamotrek by 16 seconds for fastest time and first on handicap with Intuition (Marc Carpenter) second and Lamotrek third.

The re-run of the Commodore’s Cup is foreshadowed for Sunday April 14 at a time to be determined closer to the day.

John Bird