Race Report – Spring Series Day 3 – Saturday
Race Officer: Oli
Starter: Frank
Safety Boat: Vova & Timor
Course: EFDB – all marks to starboard
Weather: South East to North East breeze, typically erratic Factory Field conditions – sudden headers and knocks, big dead patches, and the occasional ballistic gust. Basically, standard fare!
Twelve boats turned out for the third day of the Spring Series. We began with two practice starts to give everyone a feel for the line in the shifty breeze. The SE wind initially favoured the pin end, though when a puff came through the middle, those on port tack could sneak across. It kept everyone guessing.
Race One
A good, clean start with the whole fleet crossing pretty evenly. John Morgan, in his brand new boat Lazy Lizard (599), had a cracking first leg and rounded mark E in the lead. Unfortunately, mid-race he was heard calling across the water to ask which way to go – a noble effort, but not exactly the fastest way around the course. He slipped back to finish seventh.
At mark F, the leading pack started to form: Victoria & Ed, Mary & Claudia, and Lizzie. They pulled ahead of the fleet and stretched out nicely on the run past D to B. It turned into a fast and slightly wild leg, the breeze flickering between a reach and a run.
Victoria & Ed were first to round B and chose to hold on starboard. Mary & Claudia and Lizzie opted to tack early onto port. It paid off for Lizzie, who read the breeze best, picked a good angle to the finish, and took the gun.
Race Two
This one was messier. The wind was full of holes and shifts by now, and the start line was chaos. Boats drifted about unsure where the wind was or how to get there. Except for Mary & Claudia – who somehow managed to find pressure and a good angle, nailing the start and heading fast toward the west bank.
Just when it looked like they were in full control, their boat came to an abrupt and unfortunate halt – stuck on a submerged post, pivoting awkwardly. It handed the lead to Red & Cleo, who had been sitting comfortably in second and managed to avoid the same fate.
But the glory was short-lived – they tacked out into the main stream looking for wind that wasn’t there. Al and Lizzie, staying calm, hugged the west bank where the pressure was steadier. They rounded E in front and led down the next leg.
The downwind stretch to D became a drifting match, with boats crawling along in the dying breeze. Red & Cleo managed to creep past Lizzie just before D, but Al had already slipped away. He held onto his lead and took the win. Lizzie was just behind in third, and Mary & Claudia, unlucky with the post incident, finished sixth.
Overall Results (combined from both races):
1st – Lizzie
2nd – Red & Cleo
3rd (equal) – Victoria & Ed / Mary & Claudia
A really fun day’s racing with a mix of fortune, strategy, and the usual Factory Field randomness.
In Memory of Robert Gaynor
After the races, we held a minute’s silence in memory of Robert Gaynor – a much-loved and long-serving member of the club. Mary reminded us all that in recent years, no one had done more time in the safety boat than Robert, pipe in hand, quietly keeping everyone safe. Today the flags along the river flew at half mast in his honour.