The Singapore Sb3 fleet held an impromptu days racing on
Saturday 19th June as various member of the fleet will be away over
the next few weeks as school holidays start to kick in across the various
international schools.
A competitive fleet of 5 boats, were marshaled by Hulaballoo
(Jamie and Ella) who volunteered to be race committee for the day. With a
strong tide, a pleasant 12knots of wind and clear blue skies it was all set to
be a fun day. As the start gun sounded, Bandit and Vitra were over, and
returned to restart, as did the rest of the fleet , causing some initial
mayhem. Once the race committee had realized the debacle the race was binned,
and a new sequence started. This also allowed Su Me with John P and crew to
make it to the start line- as a lack of attention had caused the boat not to be
launched on Friday and an anxious wait for high water in order to make the
racing on Saturday. Once more the start was close, Chris and Claire on Bandit,
having slowed to make the start, were slow off the line and immediately tacked
to the right, which they then hit hard, with the rest of the fleet going
inshore. With the tack to the mark, it was painfully clear that inshore paid,
and paid well, with Vitra rounding in first place, followed by Dutchess
(Bert-Jan and co.) , Su Me, Pyxis (Robin) and Bandit. With a race now to the
finish, Vitra ( the Viking raiders)
romped away, only to not receive a gun as they were over at the start.
This handed victory to Dutchess, under new ownership of Bert-Jan with Su Me second and Bandit having sailed
slightly higher managing to pass Pyxis in the final race for the line.
With a very short break between the finish and the next
sequence, The race officer sent the fleet away again, with the wind reducing
and the tide still flowing, it was a long beat, with Dutchess, Su Me and Bandit
all choosing to go up the shore, Vitra and Pyxis banged the right hand side of
the course. With very little speed difference between the three boats in-shore
the call was when to strike out against the tide and go for the mark, Dutchess
was the first to break, and judged the layline well, rounding in first place,
Bandit went next, but missed a shift allowing Su Me to fetch across the tide to
round in 2nd place. The run downwind was more tide driven than wind,
at the leeward mark there was some confusion where the race officer had somehow
indicated that it was to be 2 x round – needless to say not all the fleet
managed to get the message and as they sailed down tide through the finishing
line were very surprised to not get a gun, and to see other boats sailing
upwind again. This gave the chance for Pyxis and Vitra to catch up, however in
the end the positions stayed the same to the finish.
Overall final positions were Dutchess, Su Me, Bandit, Pyxis
and Vitra. Thanks must go to Jamie and Ella for running the racing. The evening
saw a Dark & Stormy tasting where the merits of different rums, ginger
beers and limes were tasted against each other. One participant was heard to
say “ more people should join in as it is so healthy to drink so much fruit
juice packed with vitamin C “, coupled with a screening of England Vs Australia
(Rugby) and an impromptu football match.
In other fleet news, it was great to see Dutchess out, ( Bert-Jan
chuffed in the knowledge that he knows his boat is fast), being guided by
Wallace (Glasgow Kiss) imparting some of his knowledge of “sweary words”. It was sad to see that Kip could not sail due
to a nasty rash and a broken nail.
