RCC Open Report 2018

Photo: Sue Hines

Overall Winners Sabrina II sailed by John Holmes with Deb Westowski and Robin Hines

EACC RIVER CRUISER OPEN 2018

FOR FULL RESULTS CLICK HERE

SELECTED PHOTOS OF THE EVENT

REPORT BY WAIF

Co produced by Great Yarmouth Yacht Club

(Bless him, who could blame him for wanting to fly that beautiful flag? Ed.)

Paul asked if I could do a few words. I had to look up the definition of few. (What did it say Malcolm? Ed.)

The Prologue. (click here to cut to the chase. Ed)

1st March 2018. Email:

Mate: "Hi Malcolm hope you are well. The event calendar has been organised and we have not yet been able to fill OOD for the open yet. I've heard you did one a couple of years ago (it's 5 actually) and it was a great success and the bloodbath really wasn't your fault, would you be prepared to do it."

Me: "Are you coming?"

Mate: "Sorry got something else on that weekend.

Me: "Skipper coming?"

Mate: "Sorry he's involved in international relations that weekend."

Me: "Anyone from the committee coming?"

Mate: "Not that I am aware of..... "

Me: "I suppose so. Are you organising the rest of the line team? "

Mate: "What's that?"

Me: "Don't worry. I will sort it."

After various emails I have some volunteers who agree to assist

A weekend 2 weeks before the event

DT: Malcolm me and Ruth happy to help you at the open. I say thank you, you will be welcome

Monday 19th June

Phone call:

Mate: "Just going to committee meeting. making sure you still ok for the weekend."

Me: "I didn't know we had a date, where are we going?"

Mate: No, the Open.

Me "Is it this weekend?" Silence only broken by the noise of the car.............. Only kidding.

Email to line Crew

Me: "Still ok for the weekend?"

Line Crew: "We're off to Paris be back sometime Friday may not be there too early."

21st June phone call from other Line Crew:

"I know I said we would help but we have just bought another boat and if we could sail a bit I would appreciate it."

Friday email:

First Line crew: "Plane delayed anyone booked the Lion for Saturday night...."

Saturday 23rd June 2018

RCC Open day 1 (co produced by Gt Yarmouth Yacht Club) (I didn't notice you were wearing two hats Malcom. Ed)

The day dawns bright and sunny, the wind forecast is NNW about 11 mph. Although the racing does not start until the afternoon I go on site early, and call over Mr Ranger for a lift. The marks are onboard so we decide to set the course now rather than later. Laying the course may seem easy but it does take some thought (hence me having Mr Ranger with me), and takes over an hour to do. Having decided on a beat for the start the next decision is where the start line will be. I seek the permission of Donny Cook to moor at the entrance of Oby dyke which he kindly agrees to.

Some boats had arrived on Friday and the crews help set up the site. Mr Ranger organises a bit of willow for the club flag to be flown at the mast head and the GYCC burgee to also be flown.

People start giving me money and I am thinking this OOD/ Race Officer lark could be a useful earner. Then someone points out they are the entry fees. Best keep the day job then methinks. Whilst I do the brief for the entrants the committee boat moves to "on station".

Today is the pursuit race and I set a course of CBA all to starboard apart from C which was port. This used to be on Sunday morning but due to the bloodbath 5 years ago it was changed. A record breaking 21 river cruisers entered this race, obviously not knowing I was in charge. Lesley Ranger was chief time keeper and a job very well done. Amazingly most boats were at or near the line for their start. The handicap system seemed to work and a large part of the fleet were together most of the time.

Video: Malcolm Duffield

A great race was had by all. The race was won by someone who makes the Cheshire Cat look glum - John Aves in Solace, followed by Beth and then Sabrina 2. Everyone was pleased for him (or at least their disappointment was well hidden). John told me afterwards that he was grinning so much and enjoying himself he did not hear the end signal. Try looking at your watch next time CC.

Photo: Sue Hines

Sunday 24th June 2018 Day 2 (co produced by Great Yarmouth Yacht Club.) (this is getting tedious. Ed)

The wind forecast is lighter than yesterday so decision made to move B down river to before first pump house as the C mark now up at Coldharbour. Again all marks to starboard as wind remains north ish. This race is the roundabout. The start opens at 10 and the round must be completed by 12:30, or if they are good enough before then. The start is set at Snowbird's mooring. A Moorhen joins us, later being chased out. There are some early starters leading to a crescendo about 45 minutes after opening time, and tailing off with Lyra last to start. Boats going South, boats going West, boats going North and here the twain (that means "two" doesn't it? Ed.) shall meet. The race crew have to have eyes in the proverbial. It's ok if everyone who started down river did A B, or B A. Most did A to try and avoid the stronger ebb tide. Some went upriver first, and some went ACB which was a bit confusing for us on the line. It is really difficult to judge how well boats have done. What the line crew did notice was the lack of a Cheshire Cat. Eventually the order is sorted. An early starter Zingara won from Mystery 2nd and Sabrina 2 3rd.

For the afternoon another change of location for C back down to Thurne Mouth, and the start line just down from Thurne Mouth. The course is BCA all to starboard. There are 16 boats only as various crews had other places to get to. This time it is fast boats first and split starts. Although the tide was still ebbing quite quickly one or two did not quite get their timing right and were over. Others in the next starts got caught in a wind shadow on the Oby bank, resulting in them having to take several tacks to get round the corner and away to B. The wind goes up and down and so a decision is made to shorten the course and we moved down river just below the remaining moorings at Oby. Plan A is nestle in drop anchor and shorten as the boats come down river. Plan B is have a plan C. A test run for plan A went well and we were in time for Lyra, that is until the mud weight slipped and we went broadside. Plan B went into operation and so C was get the bow back to the bank and tie it on. This worked. The course was shortened although a bit longer than we planned. Taking the honours in this race were Lyra 1st. Mystery 2nd and Sabrina 2 3rd.

PRIZE GIVING (Co presented by Great Yarmouth Yacht Club) (Yawn, Ed)

It was pleasing that lots of people stayed for the prize giving. The 1st - 3rd places for each race received a coaster and some liquid refreshment. It then came to the overall winner and the custodian of the Moth Salver. Proving that consistency overall is better than being a Cheshire Cat or the fastest boat over the water, the winner was Sabrina 2. Many congratulations to John and his crew.

Photo: Malcolm Duffield

Sabrina 2 Moth Salver winner 2018

If anyone knows of a crew berth going ..............

A big thank you for my line crew Roger and Lesley and to Ian who manned the safety boat all weekend for me and helped a couple of others in difficulties. Also thanks to David and Ruth T for the offer of help and then going sailing instead.

Thank you to those that helped pack up. Finally thank you to all that came for the weekend and made the event go so well. Even though I was not taking part I had a great weekend.

Waif (aka Malcolm Duffield)

(I should have known better than to ask for a few words, but thanks anyway, Malcolm. Ed)

RESULTS

Race 1 - Saturday pm - Pursuit Race

Yacht Name	Pos
Solace	1
Beth	2
Sabrina 2	3
Pippinjack	4
Matilda	5
Mystery	6
Sandpiper	7
Melinda	8
Zingara	9
Catspaw	10
Moss Rose	11
Lyra	12
Alice Rose	13
Martlet	14
Dove	P
Pippa	15
Marilyn Ann	16
Evergreen	P
Pandora 3	DNF
Buccaneer	DNF
Snowbird	DNF

Race 2 - Sunday am - Thurne Roundabout

No	Boat Name	Helm	H/cap	Start Time	Finish Time	Elapsed Time	Corrected Time	Pos
30	Zingara	R Dugdale	2%	10:08:19	11:12:39	01:04:20	01:05:37	1
420	Lyra	P Carrington	14%	10:59:03	12:01:12	01:02:09	01:10:51	2
152	Sabrina 2	J Holmes	-8%	10:36:51	11:56:34	01:19:43	01:13:20	3
218	Mystery	J Ford	-12%	10:23:12	11:48:09	01:24:57	01:14:45	4
217	Melinda	P Howes	1%	10:53:56	12:09:02	01:15:06	01:15:51	5
122	Martlet	H Franzen	-18%	10:18:38	11:51:21	01:32:43	01:16:02	6
82	Beth	G Howarth	-5%	10:16:40	11:37:05	01:20:25	01:16:24	7
318	Pippinjack	P Stevens	-7%	10:26:00	11:48:18	01:22:18	01:16:32	8
24	Pippa	G Angell	-7%	10:19:03	11:42:12	01:23:09	01:17:20	9
287	Solace	J Aves	-14%	10:26:24	11:56:27	01:30:03	01:17:27	10
244	Catspaw	B Wilkins	-5%	10:58:02	12:21:29	01:23:27	01:19:17	11
169	Pandora 3	P J Smith	-13%	10:04:57	11:36:12	01:31:15	01:19:23	12
282	Sandpiper	C Little	-10%	10:29:51	11:58:59	01:29:08	01:20:13	13
300	Matilda	A Landamore	0%	10:49:04	12:09:41	01:20:37	01:20:37	14
86	Moss Rose	C & P Markham	-9%	10:41:48	12:11:00	01:29:12	01:21:10	15
209	Evergreen	D Thompson	-8%p	10:31:53	12:03:11	01:31:18	01:24:00	P
416	Alice Rose	S Burton	-7%	10:42:24	12:13:42	01:31:18	01:24:55	16
45	Buccaneer	J Burton	-13%	10:14:13	11:51:57	01:37:44	01:25:02	17
266	Dove	D Hopwood	-10%p	10:42:03	12:17:26	01:35:23	01:25:51	P

Race 3 - Sunday pm - Round the cans

No	Boat Name	Helm	H/cap	Start No	Finish Time	Elapsed Time	Corrected Time	Pos
420	Lyra	P Carrington	14%	1	14:46:54	01:01:54	01:10:34	1
218	Mystery	J Ford	-12%	3	15:16:52	01:21:52	01:12:03	2
152	Sabrina 2	J Holmes	-8%	3	15:15:54	01:20:54	01:14:26	3
122	Martlet	H Franzen	-18%	4	15:31:36	01:31:36	01:15:07	4
24	Pippa	G Angell	-7%	2	15:11:59	01:21:59	01:16:15	5
82	Beth	G Howarth	-5%	2	15:10:19	01:20:19	01:16:18	6
416	Alice Rose	S Burton	-7%	2	15:12:40	01:22:40	01:16:53	7
244	Catspaw	B Wilkins	-5%	2	15:10:57	01:20:57	01:16:54	8
318	Pippinjack	P Stevens	-7%	2	15:12:58	01:22:58	01:17:10	9
287	Solace	J Aves	-14%	4	15:29:51	01:29:51	01:17:16	10
30	Zingara	R Dugdale	2%	1	15:02:36	01:17:36	01:19:09	11
217	Melinda	P Howes	1%	1	15:03:52	01:18:52	01:19:39	12
300	Matilda	A Landamore	0%	1	15:05:48	01:20:48	01:20:48	13
45	Buccaneer	J Burton	-13%	4	15:35:38	01:35:38	01:23:12	14
209	Evergreen	D Thompson	-8%p	3	15:35:50	01:40:50	01:32:46	P
169	Pandora 3	P J Smith	-13%	4	RTD	00:00:00	00:00:00	Rtd

Overall Results

Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	H/cap	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Total	Pos
152	Sabrina 2	J Holmes	-8%	3	3	3	9	1
218	Mystery	M Ford	-12%	6	4	2	12	2
420	Lyra	P Carrington	14%	12	2	1	15	3
82	Beth	G Howarth	-5%	2	7	6	15	4
318	Pippinjack	P Stevens	-7%	4	8	9	21	5
30	Zingara	R Dugdale	2%	9	1	11	21	6
287	Solace	J Aves	-14%	1	10	10	21	7
122	Martlet	H Franzen	-18%	14	6	4	24	8
217	Melinda	P Howes	1%	8	5	12	25	9
24	Pippa	G Angell	-7%	15	9	5	29	10
244	Catspaw	B Wilkins	-5%	10	11	8	29	11
300	Matilda	A Landamore	0%	5	14	13	32	12
416	Alice Rose	S Burton	-7%	13	16	7	36	13
282	Sandpiper	C Little	-10%	7	13	22	42	14
86	Moss Rose	C & P Markham	-9%	11	15	22	48	15
45	Buccaneer	J Burton	-13%	22	17	14	53	16
169	Pandora 3	P J Smith	-13%	22	12	22	56	17
202	Marilyn Ann	P Dring	-7%	16	22	22	60	18
223	Snowbird	N Wiggins	-10%	22	22	22	66	19
266	Dove	D Hopwood	-10%p		P
209	Evergreen	D Thompson	-8%p		P	P