It was third time lucky when four RCODs took advantage of a weather window to enjoy a series of three short races off Bridgemarsh Island last weekend.

Ant Law ably assisted by Karen Aylen using the floating Beach Hut as a race box set the first start close to the riverside home of the Bacons, new owners of Corella who could not take part. Cormorant (Justin Waples) led from the start with a slight wind shift creating a bit of a procession up to Canewdon with the finish back to Cliff. The second race was won by Coralie (Sue Law) playing the Bridgemarsh shore with a well timed long starboard tack to lay Glaze. The final race in a dying breeze hinged on who would round the windward mark first and take the ebb back to the club house, finishing on the RBYC line. All four protagonists arrived close to the mark against a very strong tide with diminishing wind. Comorant squeezed round and was gone, Corinna (Martin Makey) won a port and starboard incident with Corpo Santo (John Waples) and rounded second. Coralie finished third with Corpo Santo, suffering after the port and starboard incident, at the end of the fleet.

First overall was Justin Waples, second Sue Law and third equal Martin Makey and John Waples.

The Beach Hut turned to port at Althorne to enjoy the shelter and solitude of her winter berth.  The race team drove back to the Club to join in the banter about Karen’s elegant anchor raising and the absence of Corsair due to a suspected allergy to forecasted rain.  Their efforts to man the pumps on Sunday give credence to their allergy.

Three short races is proving a popular format as an occasional change from a single two and a half hour race on Saturday afternoons.

Ant Law