Race Day 2 - Port raft bowled out by Fireballs

 The day started very grey and a tad nippy, with the wind northeast 10 to 15 knots. This is a pleasant change to the 15 to 25 knots and may well be the on set of winter winds.

For the third start in a row the Fireball fleet, sailing on starboard tack hard on the wind, parallel to the start line took on the flying bedstead fleet as they bore off from a gathering above the port tack lay line.
This works a bit like tenpin bowling but accompanied by panoramic sound bite of panic and mayhem, all a bit gamey, and carried out in the best of possible taste; unless of course you’re a tad late in the queue, and left to avoid the forest of long black tiller extensions shaking and waving in the wind.
I am of the option that seeming how the first mark to be rounded can be laid without a tack on port from the wind ward end of the start line, that this is all about pushing the edges and making as much fun out of what would other wise be boring start with only one place to be on the line.

The race was won by a RS700 way out on his own somewhere and I would think he had a jolly good sail around the cans.
The race from what I could see was to be had in the Fireballs with places changing and gains being made from navigation error, all eyeball to eyeball racing and Martin and Tony crossing the finish approx 8 second ahead of Mark and Nigel to be 2nd and 3rd.
There was a fleet of three Blazes, the biggest class in the race, again with place changes and Alex coming out the leading Blaze in 4th place.
Jacko and Simon are heads in the boat and working to build Simons boat handling skills. As new to sailing and Jacko’s new front end man Simon is making fast progress and was seen to be putting some good kite work together and it will not be long before Jacko sleeps down the runs once more and again relies totally on the front end man as a Minder as well as a crew. They have (I think) scored a 10th and 5th.

We have still not quite got full knowledge of the lay of the land at this new venue. It is a splendid sailing club sitting at the top of the river and has a fine view over Northy Island with Osea Island in the distance.

With a winter fleet of 14 assorted boats it has a roomy feel about it. The river is almost empty of cruisers now and there was no sign of Thames Barges or the Maldon excursion boat tripper, so I guess it is the best of times to be out on the river sailing. I miss the sounds of the wading birds but have seen the flocks glinting in the skies over Maylandsea Bay on the horizon and miss sailing out past Lawling point and Mundon Spit.

The results have not been posted as yet but I have had sight of the result sheets and it is not clear what the format is for the series but it should be 2 races sailed with no discard, although two more races have been sailed.
The result after 2 races (as I understand it)
1st    R Foulds             RS700      3 points
2nd    Mark & Nigel      Fireball    4 points
3rd    Martin & Tony     Fireball    5 points

Maylandsea Bay Winter Series Results

Next Race Day Dec. 5th