There was a special buzz before we started racing yesterday. Laurie and Brent had the foreshore set up and the course laid in good time for an 11 am first race. The wind was up and promised to swing to the perfect NE for Race Area A. More and more skippers arrived and the interest grew for this penultimate day of the 2021 Cub Championship Series.

By Race 4, there were 20 yachts on the water, vying for placings. Racing was tight right from the start and through the course with the wind pulsing in both strength and direction. Most noticeable was the congestion when the two fleets met… initially as the IOMs stormed down their first run into the DF 95s lining up for their start. Laurie solved this by delaying the DF 95s start by half a minute but, inevitably with both fleets so competitive and close, they met en-masse somewhere on the course.

Given that Laurie and Gary J led us through 17 races, it is probable that separating the two fleets into back to back races with a separate finishing line, is the way to go for cleaner and more satisfying racing. As soon as the last yachts head for the finish, the next race can be started. What do you think?

Another need for larger turnouts is a driver for Rata to be available for yacht rescue.

Hats off to Laurie and Gary for their race management yesterday and to all the club members who pitched in to help. The pack away was so slick – like a well oiled machine.

Thanks too to Darryl for his report posted last night on the DF 95 racing WhatsApp: 9 dfs for club Champs fantastic to see. Well done to Jono and Pete Andrews for having a few outstanding races.  Once again the fleet is so close with speed it comes down to being clear and clean. Once again rudder servos became an issue.  Pays to have a spare.  Very shifting conditions.  From my experience even if in right of way coming down wind it’s best to make a course that takes you clear above or below best to avoid up wind traffic as much as you can. Same applies when heading to marks and you have mixed fleet of DF95’s and IOMs . Clear race is a fast race .

The results for the IOMs tell it all. Everyone had ups and downs depending on a clean start and picking the right shifts, or gate mark, staying out of trouble at the windward mark, or through the DFs, etc. Podium placings are achieved by no less than nine skippers. 

Chris’s good helming, yacht speed and calm consistent patience brought him a well deserved First. Well Done Chris. 

The Series results are now poised for a grand finale on 5 December. Spot them on Facebook and the PRSC website later in the week.