A week of storm fronts with the accompanying heavy rain and strong winds finally abated sufficiently on Sunday morning August 25th for the final race of the Keelboat Winter Series at HYC.

A westerly breeze varying from 12 to 16 knots and gusting to 20 knots with a lumpy sea would have been a challenge, however for the reaching course chosen, there was little beating (only out to Little) and little opportunity for spinnaker work. That is, until the final leg from the channel marker to the finish line for division two which produced the closest and most exciting finish since 1983.

In division one, Perle was overtaken by Mulberry at Little and despite Perle flying the kite to Marina, Mulberry managed to round first and went away gradually extending their lead, keeping fast-finishing Lithium and Whispering Jack in second and third place respectively. Wayne Pitcher’s J122 Lithium was fastest around the course by more than 4 minutes from Whispering Jack.

The four yachts in division two sensed the opportunity for snatching the first place blue pennant when approaching the port-channel marker and the run to the finish line with three of them launching their spinnakers. Show Me didn’t and was overtaken, Helga had a slight lead but was gathered in by Not Negotiable pipping Helga by one second on the line with Farrouk in third place just ten seconds behind. Maybe an extra coat of paint on the bow next year. Greg Hill (NN) was congratulated for another first and fastest by all those who received a beer from him afterwards.

Kind of Blue’s run of wins came to an end in division three with Ken and Des Luplau’s Beneteau First 35, La Premiere, ideally suited to the reaching course finishing two minutes ahead of Kind of Blue. Hard Evidence finished third ahead of Catabatic and Stelfred.

The series results are as follows:
Division one: Whispering Jack first, Mulberry then Lithium.
Division two: Not Negotiable, Farrouk, Show Me
Division three: Kind Of Blue, La Premiere, Hard Evidence.

Thank you to the crews who managed the start/finish tower for average points during the winter season and in particular for this race: Corinne Taylor, Chris Blackney and Katie Tucker. Barry Johnson looked after results with Peter Hibberd, handicapper, thanks guys.


John Bird