Wednesday 23rd January
I'll hand this one straight over to James, after my appaling attempt at a sailing report last week!!
Gull Pond Regatta, Falkland Islands Sailing Report
Over the last few weeks there have been three attempts to hold Gull Pond Regatta – a regatta for the Military people that work at Mount Pleasant Complex, Falkland Islands. Sidmouth’s current and three time consecutive Regatta winner James Salter, of Sidmouth Sailing Club and the Met Office saw the advertisement, donned the most retro Longjohn in the kit shed and took on the RAF sailing team in a Pico Maxi Regatta.
Attempt one was blow out, 30 knotts gusting 40, with one gust of 42 knotts seen – that Severe Gale 9! Bit breezy but the small fleet of experienced sailors were not put off (although many were), and attempted one ‘inverted P’ course race. A bit off a messy start by all after screaming around pre-race. Even the Pico’s, normally a kid’s boat were pretty wild to handle. After making the windward mark before anyone else started James Salter won the race by a lap in a two lap race, despite putting it in twice gybing on the first lap, not one else finished 2 laps. Unfortunately due to the winds being a little extreme and only 1 proper finisher the race didn’t count, that made tearing apart hands to the point of bleeding on six fingers all the less worth it!
Attempt 2, it was still howling, 25 Knotts gusting 35-40 (gusting Gale Force 8). This time the race officer set a big triangle course to prevent too much gybing issues! This proved much more fun. Race 1 started with a good start by all, particularly James the Armourer (JtA) and Dean. The bear away proved challenging, Dean went over and JtA had trouble, Salter screamed off and took and instantly commanding lead. Salter took off downwind and pulled away from the fleet to win after two lap, Mark 2nd, Dean DSQ (didn’t got through the gate), JtA DNF . There were points where Salter was the only sailor upright, with everyone else displaying their bright yellow hulls. With bleeding hands, again, Salter went in the change a dodgy rudder and tape his hands up, with plenty of time to get back in the water before anyone else finished the race! Race 2, much the same, Salter lead start to finish, Mark finished, Dean had some real trouble and did not finish. James the Armourer didn’t make the start after a capsize pre-race. Turns out he managed to capsize and dig the top of his mast into a wreck on the bottom of the lake. Very stuck! So, at the end of day one it was decided by the race officer that 3 races were needed to constitute a series, and day 1 didn’t count. They wouldn’t give me the trophy despite turning up in the club house with my Sidmouth Sailing Club tie.
Day 3 of the one day Regatta and it felt like this really was more of a Series than a one off regatta. It was still 25 Knotts (Force 6) and gusting 35, forecast was to drop in the late evening, four more quick two lap races scheduled. Race 3 (1st of the day) was held on a good triangle course, a mostly even start, a short beat and the fleet were off down wind. Dean had the pick of the starts, but was soon shown how to sail downwind in a blow by Salter, who overtook on the gybe. Dean took a nose dive to take a look at the fishes, Mark, currently in 3rd had a mare at the wing mark and couldn’t turn for ages, James the Armourer may as well of left the boat in the shore and swam round he was capsizing so much, even with his sail reefed. Salter won again.
Race 4 was still windy, and Salter gave everyone a look in by trying to kill speed to time the start line and ended up with a massive nose dive, water up to the goose neck, helm hit the mast, fish say what’s going on and the race started. Mark had a belting start and lead for a lap. Dean on the hit list and was only 1 boat length up on Salter at the Leeward mark. Up the beat Salter’s Met knowledge paid off. He spotted a gusty shift and decided to head left up the middle of the lake, and break away from the pack. This paid off big time. Convincingly taking the lead form third place at the Leeward mark, very pleasing. Salter did enough on this first lap to go on a win the race, and was thinking he really should have acquired some gloves like the other guys – finger tape was a significance improvement.
Race 5 had a really competitive start, with a slight easing in the wind. Mark and Dean had a good battle up front from the start battling Salter down the first reach. Apparently Mark hasn’t done much racing and ‘Windward boat’ means nothing, he sailed straight into Salter, with no right of way and wouldn’t even get out of the way, let alone do any turns! This forced Mark, Salter, and Dean to go down the second very broad reach 3 a-Brest. The lack of rule knowledge then hampered Mark and he didn’t know to call water on the other two boats, and didn’t make the mark. Salter then progressed to overtake Dean with some upwind speed and won by a margin less than accustom to, less than a leg!
Race 6, the final race of the Series/Regatta, Salter had won the regatta and was in for a victory lap in some considerably lighter winds – only 10 Knots. This favoured James the Armourer who was much lighter, and finally took out the reef in his sail. It wasn’t enough. In a competitive race Dean won, after taking another great start, both James’s had a battle for 2 laps, but Salted managed to pip him up the last beat to take 2nd, and Mark struggled in the lighter winds and picked up a 4th.
Overall, Salter won with 5 points and six bleeding fingers, but a little disappointed not to clean up and discard a 1st place. Dean’s last race performance earn him second overall, Mark 3rd. James really struggled with the strong winds being a little light in stature, but showed great endeavour to keep finishing. Salter again donned the Sidmouth Sailing Club tie (and polo shirt) for prize giving and this time they gave him the Shied Trophy, winner! Big thanks to the race committee of Laurie and Dean, the Rescue boat team – Nick and the Other guy, and thanks for inviting me back to compete the series after winning the first few days!
