2010 Portland

sponsored by SeaCart

PHHS Passage Series B

IRC and MOCRA Series B

The forecast for Saturday promised warm weather light winds eventially filling the from the west.  The forecast wasn't wrong!
Just at the start for classes one and two the wind went very light and for a moment or two we wondered if we would actually make the start line.  The start was at Vinyl Solutions, then to Arish Mell passing it to port and then to the Weymouth finish line.  
From the start to Swanage Bay positions were constantly changing and spinnakers hoisted, then dropped, and then the wind all but died.  At Durlston Head it was possible to see that the boats ahead were heeling and a on a beat.  But we watched and waited watched and waited the gap between us and them was getting larger and larger and then eventually the breeze arrived and we actually had steerage at last!  We could almost lay Saint Albans Head but had to put in short tack towards the ledge.  The tide was turning against us and we began beating to Weymouth with the occasional short tack out.
It was a slow race to Portland and we we were tying up at about 5.00 with a rendezvous and promise of free beers at 7.00.  No time for exploring or much else!  Free drinks were enjoyed upstairs at "the boat that rocks".  Many thanks to Seacart for the free drinks.  A set meal was on offer upstairs but in the event most went downstairs where an a La carte menu was on offer.
A stiff wind blew during the night meaning that the sound from flags was nearly enough to to stop you from sleeping!  No time for a full English in the morning as the start was at 8:30!  A brisk westerly wind was blowing and spinnakers were set at the start with the prospect of a gybe at the north entrance.  As we drew away from the lee of Portland the wind   gently built as did the tide AGAINST US!  There was a bigger difference between boat speed and ground speed, the wrong way, than we wanted to see!  Wise skippers kept well inshore but this could be uncomfortable when the spinnaker and waves rather than skipper were in charge and boats broached towards the cliffs.  There were a couple of boats that we noted had difficulty keeping spinnakers under control, one was Virago, the other was one further ahead flying a white spinnaker.  Conversely Quadrophena seemed a steady as a rock!  We were impressed.  The multihulls vanished very quickly and it would be interesting to know their maximum speed.  The size of Geroimo's spinaker was impressive and Jackie was beaming from ear to ear when I bumped into her and she told us that they saw 19.9 knots!
At the ledge the sea was particularly confused making helming very strenuous.  One moment you were bracing your self to push the tiller away the next moment you were bracing  the opposite way to pull the tiller towards you.  Perhaps this is where a wheel has an advantage.  We were seeing a true wind of 26 knots and decided it might be a good idea to take the kite down.  There was no way we were gybing!
Once round Durlston Head the sea flattened and the wind dropped down a notch or two, change headsail, hoist  spinnaker?  The end was in sight!
(Matchmaker)