Author: CCRC Editor

Another weekend of CCRC sailing as we gradually return to normal races and socials.
Saturday saw us sail to Cowes with a strong tide in our favour,a south-easterly wind and brilliant sunshine. However, that strong tide was a real challenge on the race leg from East Bramble back to Browndown where the fleet had to short-tack close to shore to achieve any ground. For some that leg of 1.8 miles involved 17 tacks – a great way to improve your technique for tacking!
Dinner was at Island Sailing Club where we had an excellent meal with that superb view across the Solent.
Sunday saw rain and stronger winds (up to 25knots) and some showers for the return race. The start was delayed slightly to allow a ship through what would otherwise have been us beating across the main channel. After that beat it was straight back to Chi but with some boats choosing the route through the forts and others through the dolphin passage.

Sunday saw even less wind but more CCRC competitors; and today was the crews’ race so the normal helm had to find something else to do. A course was announced and we set off beating towards the shipping channel but gradually the wind dropped and was fitful as to its actual direction. Slowly though the fleet got to the first mark and the wind started to fill in. The next leg was northwards to Chi and the downwind sails flew. Nevertheless the decision was made to shorten the race, both because of the time expired and the risk of the wind dropping again. Another great day of challenging sailing and learning more about how to sail in light airs.

Saturday’s race was the annual Bramidge Trophy race – a team race between CCRC and Chichester Yacht Club(CYC); a race which was been going on for some decades. As forecast the wind was light and fluky but at least it was dry after days of rain. Twelve boats turned up for a rolling start and a race of about 12 miles around the racing marks in Hayling Bay plus the navigational mark “Winner”. The light airs and changing wind direction led to many position changes on the water. Then we all gathered in CYC for some drinks and a sociable dinner followed by the results. These used the NHC system with a progressive handicap applied for boats in this race since 2016 and for 2021 CCRC won the trophy back from CYC.

Sunday’s Bart’s Bash race saw warm and sunny weather with a gentle breeze enabling race with long legs out and back to the shipping channel buoys and plenty of opportunity to fly those downwind sails. A superb day to be out on the water and enjoying some sailing, racing against other members.

After two weekends with strong winds which resulted in race cancellations we finally had a weekend with gentle breezes forecast – maybe too little to race! Nevertheless 8 boats turned out to race on the Saturday and 6 on Sunday. Both days the PROs set courses which could be easily shortened but by circling a ring of buoys it gave a wide variation of sailing angles.
With downwind sails forbidden some legs could have been very slow but on Saturday there was a little more wind than promised. Indeed, after a 15min start postponement the wind backed to the west and and kicked in reliably and even peaked at 18 knots! I am sure we all enjoyed a sail with some brisk and some gentle legs in the sun though cooled by the sea breeze.
Sunday was a more gentle race with a peak wind of around 13 knots but the fleet all completed a slightly longer course.

Ten boats turned out for the Commodore’s Bender at the weekend which consisted of two innovative races with distant socialising lunch at anchor between them. It was fortunate the event was delayed from Saturday to Sunday as the weather then provided plenty of wind for racing but a calm and sunny anchorage for lunch. It was a shame a few were unable to take part due to the date change. The races allowed competitors to decide on their own start time (within limits) which made for an easier start but more difficulty seeing how you were performing. As for lunch the bay was popular but plenty of room for all, and some hung off other anchored boats to save hassle.
A super day and great to be back on the water.

Members of Yacht Owners Associations are invited to a one-off race between members and their associations in the Solent on Saturday 9th May 2020.
This is intended to be a fun event to promote on-the-water competition and socialising between the participants and the Owners Associations.
Following the race, participants are invited to gather in Cowes Yacht Haven and attend a prize-giving dinner.
The event is organised by Chichester Cruiser Racing Club which has organised races for boats in the Chichester Harbour area for over 70 years.

Our thanks to our member presenters at the Winter Social which proved still more popular this year than last. Ross talked and showed a video about his Round The Island race where they did well to finish in such light airs; Richard and Pam talked through their escapade involving a lobster pot requiring a lifeboat off Cherbourg last summer; and Patrick and Amanda presented their cruise round Scotland, across the North Sea and down the coast of Norway. I think we all appreciated the presentations and range of topics.
We also talked through the CCRC programme for this 2020 focussing on some of the changes from the usual programme or innovations for this year. Then we all retired to the bar at Itchenor Sailing Club for some sociable drinks before the carvery roast dinner.