Its Wind or No Wind in the First Series at Douglas Bay
Report from Mike Mcmahon
So far the Douglas Bay Yacht Club’s First SKANCO Series has been feast or famine as far as the wind is concerned. Conditions have varied from 25 knots to Zero, with all strengths in between. The second race was cancelled for lack of wind and in two other races some yachts failed to finish within the time limit as the wind died.
In Thursday’s Race 3, some of the smaller boats had to reef in the Force 5 wind before the start and then power-up to bigger sails as the wind eased later in the race. Fruit & Nuts made a good start in Class 1 (1720 Sportsboats) and Heatwave was the first away in Class 2 (Handicap). In Class 1 Folly took the lead on the first leg but was then passed on the downwind leg by Fruit & Nuts and Yknot. A close battle developed between these two with Yknot taking the lead, but them losing it to Fruit & Nuts. It was nip and tuck all the way round the course with positions changing frequently.
In Class 2 Buzz Factor caught up and passed Heatwave and Aurora on the first lap and pulled further ahead after shaking out a reef as the wind eased. A close tacking battle ensued between Drumbeat and Skoosh on the way upwind from the Skandia mark to the mid-bay gate. Skoosh passed through the gate flying a Protest flag but Drumbeat exonerated herself by doing penalty turns. Heatwave and Aurora were in close contention also, with Heatwave finally getting the better of it on the last leg. Those who tacked inshore seemed to do better than those who went offshore.
The course was shortened for Class 2 as the wind went lighter. Buzz Factor took line honours with Heatwave crossing second, ahead of Aurora.
In Class 1 Yknot was again back in the lead with Fruit & Nuts close astern in spite of having a vicious broach. All seemed to have spinnaker problems down near the Skandia mark. Yknot held her lead to the finish to take a clear victory over Fruit & Nuts, with Folly third.
With two weeks of racing still to go in this First Series, Yknot is in a commanding position with three wins in Class 1, but it is still possible for second placed Fruit & Nuts to pull something out of the hat. In Class 2 the position is not so clear cut. Eauvation, Buzz Factor, Tango and Heatwave are all still in with a chance of taking the Series, as the following results show:-
DBYC Race Results - First Series - May 2007
1st TUE Race 1
Class 1:
- YKnot
- Fruit & Nuts
- Folly
Class 2:
- Tango
- Eauvation
- Cavalier
- Buzz Factor
- Drumbeat
- Skoosh
- Heatwave
1st THU Race 1
Races cancelled due to no wind
2nd TUE Race 2
Class 1:
Fruit & Nuts, Folly, Kick ‘em Jenny, Yknot - Did Not Finish
Class 2:
- Buzz Factor
- Heatwave
- Eauvation
- Skoosh
- Tango (Rtd)
2nd THU Race 2
Class 1:
- Yknot
- Fruit & Nuts
- Folly
Class 2:
- Eauvation
- Skoosh (Rtd)
- Buzz Factor, Drumbeat, Heatwave, Tango (DNF)
3rd TUE Race 3
Class 1:
- YKnot
- Fruit & Nuts
- Folly
- Kick ‘em Jenny
Class 2:
- Eauvation
- Tango
- Buzz Factor
- Skoosh
- Heatwave
3rd THUR Race 3
Class 1:
- Yknot
- Fruit & Nuts
- Folly
Class 2:
- Buzz Factor
- Heatwave
- Aurora
- Drumbeat
- Airy Dick
- Skoosh
OWNERS
Class 1
- Yknot (Michael Wilson/Anthony Ellis)
- Fruit & Nuts (Robin Wootton)
- Folly (Paul Hansford)
- Kick ‘em Jenny (John Knight)
Class 2
- Buzz Factor (Steve Bee)
- Cavalier (Bill Cochran)
- Heatwave (Mike McMahon)
- Tango (Andy Dunn)
- Eauvation (Jason Corlett)
- Aurora (David Boultbee)
- Airy Dick (Martyn Perkins)
- Skoosh (Doug Williamson)
- Drumbeat (Dave Luton)