Huge congratulations to Jimmy Sandison, who in the final race of the Phantom Nationals at Lyme Regis Sailing Club, grabbed a 3rd place finish! This meant that Jimmy finished 31st overall in a fleet of almost 70 boats.

Well done. Jimmy!

You can view the results here

You can't park that there, son!

A recounting of a perfectly considered decision.

By Bruce Millar

Dinghy Racing is a game of decisions. Making the correct ones not only help you go faster round the track, they generally help keep you out of trouble, too. 

Doug and I decided, very last minute, to sail Doug’s RS400 in the Nationals. Too good an opportunity to miss such an event at your home club. Knowing before the first race had even begun that we wouldn't be able to compete in all 5 days, we decided the priority was to have a laugh, stay out of trouble and just see if we could improve as the week wore on. All good decisions! Not only did we have a laugh, I think we provided a few too. Bonus points!

Compared to club racing, the decisions in a big(ish) fleet come thick and fast. But it was our final decision in our maiden race of the RS400 Nationals which stood out way more than any other we made over the course of the week. I'm sure the committee boat would agree. 

It all revolved around how best to handle the short sprint from the leeward gate to the finish line. A simple question. Kite up, or kite down? 

Like all boats, 400's are easier to gybe in a breeze if you are carrying as much speed as possible. +1 for the kite up option. However, the unknown variable was the sailing angle to the finish line. We knew it would be tight. But how tight? Assuming we complete a nice gybe, would it be too tight to fly the kite across the line? Was there enough time to quickly drop the kite after the gybe, if needs must? 

If you have the misfortune to find yourself behind other boats during a race, something I have immeasurable experience of, there is one small consolation. It's always wise to try and observe, if there is time, what other boats do in certain situations and how they fare as a result. As we roared down a gust (that's what 400's do, they roar) on our approach to said gate, we watched two boats handle the conundrum just ahead of us. One dropped their kite for that final sprint, the other looked to roll the dice and kept theirs up. Both survived and finished. Evidence, inconclusive.

Right, our turn. We executed a decent gybe with the kite up, right beside the port leeward mark and carried good pace. So far, so good. However, it became apparent, very quickly, that the angles were not in our favour. Perhaps of more significance, nor was the gust we were still riding. 

As soon as we pointed the boat anywhere near the finish line side of the committee boat, the kite became rather upset and started to flog. The result, a dramatic drop in boat speed, a huge load through the mainsail and a heeling angle which was enough to send Doug sliding down the boat. I made an attempt to remain perched on the side deck, trying to ascertain if the rudder was still in enough water to be of any use, whilst almost accepting an imminent capsize, or worse. At this point I probably resembled a conductor who had lost his brass band, but kept waving regardless.

As the boat began to approach the point of no return, from my vantage point I recall being able to peer along the sightline of the mast, like a reticule on a sniper rifle. There was no enemy down these sights though. Arguably something much more intimidating. A stern-looking Bill Roberts, arms crossed in typical cool-but-mildly-concerned fashion. Frown in full effect, just waiting to see what was about to unfold. I swear I saw him reach for a fender. Robbie also seemed to be adopting his best mast-catching position.

It was at this point that I felt we had a better chance of hitting the committee boat, three sheets flogging and at a jaunty angle, than we did of crossing the finish cleanly and in one piece. As it tends to do in these situations, time slowed down. Options were few. The committee boat grew bigger in my Selden Spars reticule, the inquisitive looks on the faces of the race committee now very easy to study. Our flogging sails were doing their very best to drag us to the one mark of the course you absolutely cannot hit. In motoring terms, it felt like we had run out of opposite lock.

I contemplated reaching for a pen and paper, as it seemed sensible to begin filling out an application for Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (would they have me after this?). It was very apparent

I wouldn't be able to show my face at ELYC again if, as a home RS400 during a National Championship, we managed to actually mount the committee boat.

Doug however, had not given up hope of rescuing the situation. An un-cleating of the jib and a return to the windward side of the boat didn't quite rectify all of our troubles, but was enough to give us enough forward momentum in a more desirable direction, to drag us across the line and more importantly, removing the need for the committee boat to deploy the roaming fenders. 

We managed to regain full control. Doug dropped the kite while I turned to the committee boat and gave the internationally recognised gesture for "thank ****", a wiping of the brow from one side to the other, followed by a perspiration-removing  flick. 

Committee boat owner David Robertson was seen engaging in a rapturous round of applause in response. As if the rollover jackpot had been won. His pride and joy had been saved and he was able to return the insurance schedule below deck.

Upon reaching the ELYC Bar, PRO Robbie Lawson tapped me on the shoulder to congratulate us on such a stylish finish to our first race of the Championships. He remarked that not only could those onboard the committee boat "smell the fear" as we tried to save the situation, they also "laughed their socks off". Ok, "socks" wasn't the word Robbie used, but it's close enough.

Robbie also informed me that they wanted crews to have something to think about when going for the finish line. A last will and testament, i'm betting, wasn't quite what he wanted crew's to be thing about, but mission accomplished Robbie.

Decisions, decisions.

Good luck to Alastair and Roo who are heading to the RYA Youth National Championships in Pwllheli in Wales.

The results are used to select the British Youth Sailing Team to represent Great Britain at international regattas such as the Youth World Championships as well as the domestic youth squad for the year ahead.

You can track their progress here.

Saturday April 2nd marked what many would consider to be the start of the 2022 season proper, with the Lifeboat Pennant up for grabs.

20+ boats took to the water for a great days sailing, with a light north easterly breeze, blue skies and beaming sunshine. Ideal for those looking to shake off any winter rust!

Derek Braid has kindly provided some pictures of the occasion!

Well done to Alastair Mackinnon (4th Topper), Rory Ferrier (3rd ILCA) and Roo Purves (5th ILCA), who all recently made the journey to Largs Sailing Club for the RYA Scotland Winter Championships. Even when the colder weather hits, these guys are still out there getting better and better and better.....

Pictures

Results

Well done to Jon Shaw, who scored a very impressive 25th in a 76 boat fleet at Stone Sailing Club.

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/242139/Phantom-50th-Anniversary-Nationals-at-Stone

Congratulations to Roo Purves and Alistair Mackinnon who finished 2nd and 13th respectively in the Topper Class at the RYA Scotland Junior Champs at Loch Tummel. You can find the full results here.

Great to see our Cadets and Junior sailors making a name for themselves on the circuit!

With nerves a jangling 3 of ELYCs finest yachts took to the race course, around marks A, B and the Poo buoy. The Poo buoy was chosen as mark T was removed by Mr Hill, never happened to Sir Ben in the America Cup.  Despite having a dodgy start kinsman held the early lead but was quickly overtaken by that solo around the Craig sailor,
Martin.

Having decided that a wee infringement of the rules had taken place at the start, Kinsman very sportingly did a 720 , or as close to that as possible as nobody on board could count that high.

By this time Westaway was going out of sight closely followed by Mischief ably helmed by Mike Willis and crewed by another Mike. Rounding the outer limit team Kinsman decided to tack off shore as the navigator had waved his wet seaweed and decided that that was the way to go.

Meanwhile Westaway and Mischief got further away on a port inshore tack .
Team Kinsman felt that  they would catch them all at the Poo buoy. However due to some slight navigational errors ( must spin the compass or maybe the plates) they rounded the Poo buoy last ( sorry misprint should have said in 3 place).

Unfortunately by this time Westaway was just a speck in the distance and with spinnaker flying was bearing down on the finish line. However, Team Kinsman were not out of it and decided that the kite had to go up, Rigg was like a ballet dancer on the foredeck , excluding tutu, whilst 1st reserve waiter Mr Lundy undid all the knots that seem to happen with all the ropes( sheets, halyards etc. To those nautical types  amongst you).

Meanwhile , sportingly , Mischief decided to slow themselves down and this allowed Kinsman under full sail to pass them and finish a respectfully 2nd place. The sight of Kinsman under full sail brought a tear to many an old salt including the helm Mr Hughes.

If you would like to hear more of Team Kinsman's exploits please subscribe  via our web site, or by cheque ,for limited time special offers .

Mike Rigg
First mate