Blog

“BUSA began this year with a training weekend to help us get used to the boats. Saturday was perhaps the worst possible day for training, with gusts reaching around 35 knots. With three reefs in, it was more survival sailing than anything else. We headed back early for a debrief at the pub, where we planned our attack on Oxford for the following day.

 

Sunday brought slightly lighter winds, though still strong enough for racing Oxford with two reefs and no kite. We completed the first race in Osborne Bay, with Oxford choosing to stay in the channel for the stronger breeze, while we opted for the lighter tide closer to the shore at Cowes. We gained a huge lead in the opening ten minutes, but the wind dropped at exactly the wrong moment, allowing Oxford to take the first win.

The second race also started from the RYS line and was especially close, though unfortunately we lost again, this time by the narrowest of margins. While it was a defeat, we pushed Oxford so hard that, according to their helm, he felt so sick that someone else had to take over, so perhaps we can count that as a win. The evening finished with dinner in Hamble and, unfortunately, handing over the trophy to Oxford, though I hope it will be back in the right hands next year.

Monday brought completely different conditions, with an AP in place from Sunday evening delaying the start. This allowed the development team a pleasantly lazy morning on board. Despite the lack of wind, the weather still had surprises in store: as we headed out, it began to hail, sending most of us running for cover and leaving Sophie, Lisanne, and Joe to get thoroughly soaked. Thankfully, the sun soon appeared to dry them off, before another AP was raised on the start line as the wind dropped below five knots.

When the breeze finally filled in, we got off to a good start with a long beat from Lepe all the way to Lymington. A long run followed once we managed to get the kite up the right way round, labels were promptly added to the tack and clew after that. Although we came last, it was great fun, and I hope the development team learnt lots.

Tuesday was the first day of the inshore series, beginning with two windward-leeward races on Hill Head Plateau. During the second race, after rounding the mark in second place, the kite halyard detached and was left dangling halfway up the mast. Beth, with her spectacular climbing abilities, managed to recover it mid race while we all watched on in awe. We still finished sixth, which was not bad considering the mast had briefly turned into a climbing wall.

Wednesday began with a long round-the-cans race, involving short tacking on the plateau against an ebbing tide. Well done to Magnus for holding his nerve and finding us a channel deep enough to cross, although I suspect this was a nerve wracking task.

In the first windward-leeward race of the afternoon, sailed under white sails only, Cambridge secured their first race win. Joe and his arms played a major role in the excellent goose-swinging we managed downwind. After racing, dinner at Island Sailing Club was a fine way to round off the day, with a gorgeous view over the breakwater and some slightly out-of-tune karaoke from Strathclyde to finish the evening.

Thursday morning brought thick mist as we left the island, unable to see the mainland, and before long hoods were up as the rain arrived, making time on the rail especially wet. We had a great round-the-cans race and first windward-leeward race, finishing second in both behind Exeter and pushing them very close in the latter contest. A busy start to the final race forced us to break away early, taking a port-tack start and heading west, but crossing in ninth was still enough to beat Bristol and claim third overall.

Well done to everyone for a fantastic week of sailing and an excellent result! Very much looking forward to what next year can bring.

If you are interested in racing next year please feel free to contact me at vc-racing@cuyc.org.uk “