| Flukey wind sees Offbeat win Race 2 - start 3!! |
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| Thursday, 25 March 2010 | |
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Race 2 of the Warsash Spring Series got off to a flying start, with almost 4 knots of wind! A majority of the fleet came to a grinding halt within what felt like yards of the start line, as the breeze died. The most frustrated boat must have been Jouster (Adam Wright) who had a blinding start and managed to find the clearest of whatever air there was. The close proximity of the J/109 fleet to the committee boat after 30 minutes of racing, saw the PRO finally abandon the race and the long wait for fresh wind began. J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) managed to provide the entertainment during the interval with one of Kirsty's 'special interest' magazines (Women’s Fitness: Ed). The second start was much more promising as the wind began to build from the West and with 6-7 knots the race commenced. All of the instruments failed on board Jeez-Louise (Jamie Arnell), so they decided to go old school and use nothing more than their cunning, outstanding looks and sheer professionalism. Obviously this only got them so far because they finished third again and had to write the race report for the second week. They have sent our main sheet trimmer on a journalism course in an effort to improve on next week's written effort! Offbeat (David McLeman) helmed by former owner of Zelda, Michael Ewart-Smith led at the windward mark from J-Dream and Jouster. J-Dream took the lead on the first run, only to be overtaken as she landed in a hole one boatlength from the leeward mark, by Offbeat, Jouster and Audajious (David Jobson). On the mainland shore Offbeat led from Audajious whilst Jouster, Shiva (Matthew Boyle) and Jeez-Louise chose the left. J-Dream meanwhile encountered another hole allowing Just So (David McGough) to pass them. The wind finally kicked back in and for some unknown reason seemed to have selected Offbeat before any other boat and we were all off again. For the first time in the race all of the crew were hiking to windward and the boats converged from all angles at the windward mark, having been left to drift with the tide for much of the leg. Offbeat had too much of a lead over the rest of the fleet, so only hardware issues were going to stop them from winning, despite wishing for once that Michael might possibly make a mistake and be in the wrong place at the right time, but alas no such luck and they easily won the race. Hopefully he is busy next week in the garden! The remainder of the fleet battled it out exchanging tacks, hoping to correctly call their own run to the line. Shiva took second, just seconds in front of Jeez-Louise, who in turn only just managed to shrug off the advances of J Dream. Results:1st Offbeat – David McLeman2nd Shiva – Matthew Boyle3rd Jeez –Louise – Jamie Arnell |
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