A forecast of strong winds reduced the number of potential starters for the third day of the TVSC’s Summer Race series. At the 12:00pm briefing by race officer Dave, the wind was comfortably under the 23 knots upper limit for racing. Safety boat driver Geoffrey and assistant Aaron loaded up the buoys and set the usual course for a Southerly win: a beat up to near the Golf Club then a run back to the wing mark on the Western shore and down to the leeward mark past the moored yachts, followed by a short upwind leg to the finish. Two races were planned, but the breeze had other ideas.
Half an hour before the start time some sailors came out to test the conditions, while Geoffrey anchored the safety boat at the start line. Justin, Doug and Craig in ‘None the Wiser’ managed the conditions well, as did Kate in Laser ‘Bluey’. Dave and Syd on Hobie 16 ‘Sledder’ were greeted by a 30 plus knot gust as they left the sheltered harbour, and went for their first swim of the day. Monique in Laser ‘Rolling Stone’ was the next victim of the strengthening wind, and Geoffrey and Aaron wisely lifted the anchor in case assistance were needed as the rest of the fleet sailed out. Meanwhile Guy, Sharky and Brennan on ‘Squirtie’ and Michael, Ben and Alan on ‘Exhale’ completed the Corsair fleet.
With the start boat back in position, it was almost time to start the flag sequence to get started. More capsizes and the return of some boats back to the harbour meant the list of starters was shrinking as fast as the wind was increasing, and a discussion with the race officer resulted in the races being abandoned. This didn’t stop Dave and Justin from practicing their strong wind sailing, and they stayed out for a while longer. Guy, unfortunately, had a shroud part ways with the spreader, leading to a bent mast, but that was the only boat damaged in a wind that had built to over 30 knots.
All that was left was to retrieve the buoys, a task as wet as actually swimming. Wind against tide in the Tweed River produces some impressive waves, and the safety boat crew were drenched by every one as they picked up the buoys. Hopefully, our next race day on 20th February will be milder.