Up River Ice Breaker - Simon pulls the full monty

A light shifty north wind trembled its way across a soft flooding tide as a hardy bunch of older sailing warriors sized up the competition which gathered at the Up River Yacht Club’s annual running of the Chrimbo Ice Breaker.

It is a sad fact that the norm is that the local sailing clubs that are left sailing at this time of the year have no worries about loosing competitors and scheduling big races on the same day as others, but hayho someone slipped up this year and we found ourselves with the opportunity to take part in a race with a fine pedigree and years of history.

With the grey skies and muddy brown water it all looked a bit glum. The wind now NW-NE, 0.5 to 3 knots with little umph in it set the pace.

Ben Harris ‘Phantom’ won the start, sadly for Ben having only sailed a Phantom 4 times had not perfected the boat-rocking twitch that usually worked so well with the wobble lower lip, and lost the lead to Ian and Tina ‘N12’. Ian, a sailing wardrobe of technique and wizardry, having folded himself into the Nat. 12 looked mean and ready to take on Gerry and Liz also sailing a Nat.12. It must be said that the years of sailing experience on the Crouch in the first six boats was truly awesome and not a smile between them. Somewhere behind the river sounds you could just hear that slight raw of untapped encouragement that Andy Biddle would have rung out, terrifying in it limitless supply and crushing any idea of a sharp sailing tactical manoeuvre or even a maybe I could tack. And as Ian and Tina travelled up to the first turning mark in the lead on the flooding tide, Jacko and Simon once more tried to unfathom the ridiculous mess that Jacko had made of rigging the spinnaker, involving the downhaul, jib sheets and pole snodger. Simon, having enjoyed the quick reversal of crewing roles that Jacko throws out with no warning whatsoever, failed to move into the helming position and now finding twenty fingers around one small three mill Dyneema knot in a string attached to the spinnaker downhaul patch/jib sheets and snodger, asked if the wind that now was on the wrong side of the jib meant that a tack was required. Jacko remembered that maybe Andy’s cry of “stuff off” did not quite hit the pitch that Lorna could render “JACKO” in a Jacko senior moment and that Jacko (we feel) is warming to the quiet calm that comes from Simon not being too familiar with sailboat racing and a helm total cockup.

Ian and Tina gently slipped around the now parked support boat as the first mark to be rounded had been hived off by the icepacks in the previous weeks freeze-up conditions with Jacko and Simon close behind. History between Jacko and Ian would indicate that Jacko was about to get taken all over the river and more likely halfway up the sea wall in an attempt to pass down wind against the tide.  It could be that Ian has mellowed with the passing of time and Pico sailing.  There was no tactical jibe to starboard to test Simon’s spinnaker work and a crash jibe and Jacko passed to leeward in an uncommonly gentlemanly fashion.

Bastard Point

At this point the wind died to1 or less knots as the fleet bunched up off of Fen creek. Ian was the first to set the pace and cross to the south side before the club slipway (a move frowned on by club elders) Gerry and Liz leading the pack toughed it out, hugging to the north bank also to eventually cross. Jacko and Simon with a small lead hugged on the north side (for far too long, according to the watching club elders) but in a shift of the wind, jibed and headed hard to the south bank to re-jibe and prey for a bit more wind. There follow some gamey windward protection work in the leaders of the pack giving Jacko just a chance to coolly put in some space as they passed Brandy Hole.

As the fleet eventually rounded Stow Post to return to the club line to finish it was still race on with Gerry and Liz comfortable in second place, a good space to Ian and Tina in third and Ben fourth, as Jacko headed up and rounded the last corner the tide was ebbing with the wind still horribly light and bang on the nose, but slowly the race went Jacko’s way as he squeezed the leeward south bank putting in the occasional tack to avoid the walking seagulls, to take the bullet.

Ian and Tina taking advantage of a lift passed Gerry and Liz to be second with Gerry and Liz third.
This was a disappointingly light, grey day only lit by the smile in Simon’s face as had pulled the full monty with some excellent mastery of the spinnaker in light airs and Jacko’s odd rigging of the boat.

The full results, when posted
Next race day 9th Jan.

Winter solstice and the throwing in of the towel

Grimly harsh cold with 6 to 8 knots buffing 10 from the north and a lovely white coat of freshly laid snow set the scene as the Essex sailing world threw in the towel.
The winter solstice fell two days later and one has to ask why a sailing club would set a 9:00 start with a 10:40 HW? That in itself would write off half a sailboat fleet on a good day, just add minus 8.0 on the wind chill dial as opposed to shut eye and a cuddly woman and it’s end of series, game over.

IOS S.C. webcam



The day looked beautiful from the inside, the sun came out, the gulls drifted by and we looked at the white shiny snow covering the slipway with not one foot print in it and our thoughts went to the results.

With no elapsed or corrected time available it is anyone’s guess as to how the series was won; whether it was well sorted or really close.



Brightlingsea S.C. webcam

Richard sailing a RS700 is the winner scoring 2,1,2, but sailing of a PY of 875, which removes 1 minute 16 seconds off his elapsed time in every hour. But it is Christmas and we should wish him well.

The Fireballers Mark and Nigel scoring 1,3,DNC were 2nd with Martin and Tony 3,2,5, taking 3rd and it looked like the boat to sail if you wanted a boat race with racing tactics and more place changes than you could wave a stick at.

It is with a sense of embarrassment that I write that Jacko and Simon ‘Merlin’ scoring 10,5,4, robbed Alex ‘Blaze’ scoring 5,4,DNC, of 4th place. Alex having beaten Jacko on the two occasions that they met and it seems most unfair on Alex, but sailing a Blaze of a PY of 1046, and talking to Jacko on the way round the racetrack and holding a straight face, well it is Christmas.

The Chrimbo races start on the 2nd of Jan. at Up River Y.C. at 10:30. This is something to look forward to as I am sure Mr. Little will once more try to fit into his nice, new looking N12 and tack it around Bastard Point without resisting the limerick of Jules Harms about Bells or was it Balls but it always ended late in the day with glassy looking eyes and a slight crushed sobbing sound though a empty beer glass.
The Blackwater Icicle Race hosted this year at Harlow (Blackwater) S.C. takes place on the 9th Jan. 13:30; we pray, but do know that it will not feature Bill’s odd little sound signal. It is a shame that BSC is starts it’s Frostbite series on the same day.

Blackwater S.C. webcam

The questions are will it be nut removable cold, will Brightlingsea Merlin fleet feature up the river, is Maylandsea By really not going to see a Frostbite series, will Batty find a crew, will Ron use his toe straps, will Jacko get back into his wet suit post Chrimbo nosh.
Now read on dot dot dot.
B.S.C. witer results

We should be so lucky, wind chill –3.1 on the Essex Riviera

As luck would have it Sunday dawned grey and only -3.1 on the wind chill factor with 12 knots from the NW.
The Blackwater dinghy fleet was diminished to 5 boats but all were quite perky and with a sense of keenness hit the start line bang on as the flag fell.
It was Martin and Tony ‘Fireball’ that won the start with a nippy hoisting of the kite and a splurge of speed on the short hop to the Ballast Hole turning mark. Jacko and Simon should have being doing something like the same, had it not been for Jacko having a senior moment in rigging the kite, not dissimilar to a women’s shoulder strap handbag resulting in signs of a Jacko hissy fit as he lobbed the pointing stick to Simon. Simon now in his fifth week of sailing showed “cool” as Jacko made two attempts to sort the mess by which time Martin and Tony had taken to the horizon pursued by Ben sailing a Blaze.
In the time it takes the fleet to reach South Doubles navigation buoy the leading foiling moth was half way to home with the RS flying bedstead not far behind. It is sad that we find ourselves in a fleet of one offs with the business of sailboat racing being the short straw and the racing being more about error against the clock.

Martin and Tony now hard on the wind with Jacko and Simon making and losing time as the shifty wind played against the well-practised race tactics, and it was race on. As the three boats rounded Mill beach turning mark for a tight fetch up Colliers Reach there was barely six-boat lengths separation.
Martin with his lovely big round Fireball spinnaker was gagging to break it out and put in some space, and as the wind backed slightly went for the hoist. Jacko and Simon, teeth gritted and head out the boat, pushed the bow down and preyed to Mecca as they crept over to the windward side. But all this was to Ben’s favour as Jacko and Ben rounded Nav. mark Lock and Boundary with Martin now out the back door and the whites of Jacko’s eyeball well visible, Ben munched on the PY numbers to be 3rd in the race of fortune.

It was a stunning day to be out on the river with the sight of the wading birds circling over Maylandsea Bay and the empty mooring buoys twirling round the tidal flow. The clear cold winters air reward enough for the early rise.

No Racing took place at the Maylandsea Bay winter Series as it was postponed till the 19th
Maylandsea Bay winter series Results

Blackwater S.C. Results (and as I under stand it) after 3 races with 1 discard.
1st    Richard Foulds      RS700       3 points
2nd   Mark & Nigel        Fireball     4 points
3rd   Martin & Tony       Fireball     5 points
4th   Alex                      Blaze        9 points

Next race day Nov. 19th

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

From ‘A Day in the Life’ with The Head Cam

Some time ago we started playing with the Head Cam. It did not start well as the wind chill was subzero and ate the battery life so quickly that it was dead before the starting signal fell.

Having worked out that with the batteries left hanging in a bag on the changing room radiator till the last moment before launching we could get 40 minutes before battery death; the front-end girl lasted 20 minutes longer.

It has come to pass that we have a shed load of pixels, mostly very boring but there are some fun bits, and hopefully we can edit out the embarrassing bits and make L’s gybes look brill and share them out.

This clip shows Lorna and Jacko recovering from a rubbish start as leading boat, Dean and Rob ‘Hornet’ coming up to round race mark Jetty, sadly losing out to Lorna’s wicked handling of the kite on this tight three sailed reach to race mark 4.

Q&A Lorna and Jacko did take the bullet in this race. Yes, Jacko is always as considerate and helpful whilst racing. Yes, Jacko was fully strapped out with Lorna on this reach. No, the cam shot makes it look like the boats on its ear hole, but actually it’s dead flat. “Flashing” refers to the head cam ‘on light’ and nothing to do with Jacko’s personal life. Lorna said, “eat my shorts” and is a result of string friction and pleasure.

All complaints about the posting should be addressed to shorts@blondandbeutiful.net
All cam shot footage are rights reserved.

Thanks to Jan Nuttall for the Photo

Every thing comes to change

It is within a state of disappointment that I scribble the following.
Race team Jacko-Lorna are no more. The blond by nature Essex girl has closeted her rubber suit, hung up the sailing boots and kissed goodbye to the circus.
This followed a poor set of results and a miserable performance at the nationals. The pairing had not sailed enough races this summer to stay race sharp and on the pace. Lorna has mooted that come May 2011 having completed teacher training (a shed load of written work) that she may well look to return to sailing. For Jacko this was serious bad news and opened the door to spending more time in the Slice of Bread, or the Dog and Duck. It had been the plan to move to the Blackwater S.C. for the winter sailing series. This is a tough decision as the sounds of the flocks of wading birds and sight of basking seals add to the mystique of sailing in Lawling Creek and Maylandsea Bay.

Simon the new beef cake crew

With the need for a new crew Jacko placed an advertisement at BSC and has taken up the challenge of a newbie crew, one Mr. Simon Foote. Simon is new to sailing having completed three days as a guinea pig for the chaps doing a sailing instructors course at BSC, seems to have caught the sailing bug and shows great keenness.
Jacko and Simon having now sailed on three occasions and completed four races without any real trauma in some demanding conditions are looking fairly relaxed!
This Sunday gone saw the first day of winter racing at BSC; it was supported by a small but reasonable fleet of mixed boats sailing in a handicap fleet. There were two Fireballs but as for the rest it was one offs mostly of the flying bedsteads variety. The first leg was short and to windward followed by a long reach out into the open river to round south doubles. There was quite a high dropout rate as the squalls picked off the unprepared. The course was 6.5 miles and spread over a large area making it hard to relay what happed to whom, but it was a full on race day in a shifting wind. No results have been posted at this time of writing.



Lorna  & Laura

A large dark cloud passed to the north delivering cubic whammies down the course and stretching the sail trimming to the max as an unscheduled second race following the advertised race and it is not clear how that works in the recorded results at this time.

Jacko was heard to say that he had had some exiting moments, a little to exiting at times. Maybe this is on account that Jacko has reached his 46th year again and finding him self with a young male beef cake crew may regenerate and reopen the ‘Jacko Jam Pot’ or will Simon work out that sailing with Jacko is just to dangerous to do as a six a side football team player.



Al Wigg & Jacko

Jacko has been well looked after by Lorna who showed great patience as Jacko weighed up the options of Little Beers or Wet suited sailing and is sadly missed, as she appeared to brighten up the day for more than just Jacko. As did Al Wiggy, who is not obtainable for comment at this time, and we should not forget Laura another brill front end winning crew.

The Maylandsea Bay winter series is still alive and well with 18 boats sailing on day one, again no results posted at this time but I wish them well.
Mayland Bay winter series results

Next Race Day 21st November

Summer; The Backwater “time flies by”

Poor tides and a lack of enthusiasm have taken a huge chunk out of the sailing activities in Maylandsea Bay.

Each of the sailing venues on the Blackwater is unique and have their own special attraction not leaset the characters to be found sailing at them. That’s what makes the open meetings such a challenge and fun to take part in, but sadly the opens are not well supported.

For myself a rash of unnecessaries and poor weather has rendered a miserable run of DNS's and one 6th in the Blackwater S.C. Osea Challenge, which as it turned out had nought to do with Osea Island, but it was a testing sail at one of the finest venues on the Blackwater.

The summer membership at Brightlingsea has not yet happened and the word on the slip is that fleet is upwardly mobile with it’s tail up and looking to hang on to it’s trophies and I look forward to another rendering of Mrs & Mr Gobbies sailing rules as we know it.

There is a chance that the lack of time on the water, a splendid eating holiday and much encouragement from the local wine merchant has brought me to a point where the Bottle of Red will be coming my way. As apposed to racing hard, race practice, early nights and believe that we are on a roll and in the money. It really worked and the fat man suit (Casablanca) fits really well.

Now read on dit dit dit

Frostbite! Disappointingly warm southwest breeze on final day

The final two races were sailed on a post lunch tide in conditions that could only be said to be disappointingly warm with a soft southwest breeze, not really in keeping with the splendid nut removing northerlies that have been rattling through the dinghy park and keeping the winter sailor revved up.

The big surprise of the day was the return of Keith Fedi sailing his newer all singing, dancing Finn.

For Jacko this was a goodly sight to see as more than a few seconds rarely separates the two, with the racing never being over till the last windward leg. It is usually down to the last race winner taking the series title. This battle has gone on for many years.

It was David and Ron, ‘Fireball’ narrowly getting away with an early running down the start line on a port tack start but heading up with speed and blasted off on the dropping of the start flag. Dean, now sailing with Phil, (Mayland crew refugee) and with Malcolm and Ian, ‘Laser 4000’ in close pursuit.

It was short leg to the first mark rounding of 0 and as Jacko and Lorna reached the zone Keith made his first returning verbal barrage of what may have been featured on the balcony in the Muppet Show, with the old boys nodding heads, mumbling and shouting requests that had already been surrendered, but to no avail and the two old competitors sailed on past the mark. Keith still ranting as they tacked to the short return reaching leg only to start more verbal outtakes as he redefined the over lapped to windward rule!

All a bit sad and unnecessary in a series that has been sailed in the best of possible taste “till then”.

However it was not nearly so dramatic as Dave and Ron having lost the lead to Malcolm and Ian, sailed past Spit Nav. mark to the wrong side, taking Terri and Dave, ‘Fireball’ with them, causing as much verbal outgoing between the two Fireballs as Keith on his own at mark 0, and the fleet had only passed three marks thus so far!Dean and Phil, ‘Hornet’ kept cool as all around them appeared in chaos and even when a slight bumping occurred at a mark with Keith, showing signs of stress and failing to give sufficient room (oddly the only word not spoken all day) kept a cheery face and stuck to the task of beating up Jacko on time. Phil worked hard in yet another new crewing post and now knows more about changing boat than most and the pairing finished with two 4ths to be 5th overall.

Jenny Ball ‘Laser Radial’ has been a credit to the fleet finishing all races with 3rds, 4ths and 5ths always looked comfortable on the water to win 1st lady helm and 4th overall.

Dave and Ron have not made it too easy looking and have survived some heart stopping moments, boat damage, body abuse and ear bendings, but have supported the club bar above and beyond reasonable expectation, finishing with 2nd and 3rd in the score line to be 3rd overall.

Peter Playle ‘Laser’ DNS on the last day has had a well-sailed series with 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th to finish 2nd overall by four clear points, battling with fellow Laser sailor Martin resulting in close racing, the sale of his Laser and the purchase of a Solo for the new season. We wish him the very best.

Jacko and Lorna went to it like a ferret up a drainpipe and show good teamwork and an understanding of laidback sailboat racing in all conditions with a competitive slice of the Jacko jam pot to be 1st overall.

It should be noted that the MBSC Race Box do send in the online returns which is developing at a good pace like it has never done before. The PY is unlikely to stay still for a year at a time and suggested numbers may well be used in the next series.

A prize giving was held following the last race where Philip Spillane, club commodore, spread the prizes and thanked the countless club members that have endured a cold winter to run the Frostbite series, which in turn keeps the club alive. Thanks were made to the visiting sailors whose support, enthusiasm and love of the sport make the whole running of this series a worthy and valued thing to take part in and host. The club is a lesser place when you all leave.

Thanks to Jan Nuttall for sending in the photos

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Overall Results
1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval    Merlin                 5 Points
2nd   Peter Playle                                Laser                16 Points
3rd   David Islin and Ron Suffield        Fireball              20 Points
4th   Jenny Ball                                   Laser Radial       21 Points
5th   Dean Saxon and Rob/Phil            Hornet               22 Points

Mayland Frostbite " pent up competitors" race 5

Four weeks of pent up competitor itching was let loose as the start flag dropped in the Maylandsea Bay Frostbite series race 5. High cloud, sun and biting northwest wind rattling through the rigging as the fleet busied themselves in a ‘bring it on’ contest to get back hanging over the gunwales.

The chatter featured on the new RYA PY’s and the fact that it was about time that Jacko and Lorna got hit on the PY numbers Lottery. I have had a look this and it is clear that the Merlin Rocket Class have a view! The class have an in house personal handicapping system that is reeled out at the national champs each year. The handicapping subcommittee bloke is well respected and actively sailing in the class and we do not put up any resistance to the numbers given. In 2009 the top flight was rated at 900 and the bottom end at 1044, (the timing meant that a 1044 rated boat must be not less than 9 mins. 35 sec. behind the lead boat in 60 mins) Jacko and Lorna where rated at 1020, not less than 8mins. The relationship Jacko to the RYA PYs is that he was 21 sec. off the pace in 2009 and 51sec. in 2010.

Suddenly I can hear a Phantom sailor puffing out “rubbish” it has been noted that Phantom sailors have led Jacko home more times than the other way round in 2009.
Class sailboat racing is best, the white of the eyes and the look of pain as the close quartet errors occur and boat lengths are gained and lost is why we take on the thrill and spill of the sport. Sadly it is in the office that we get picky on PY racing that is the norm for most of us, but it is a poor replacement for class sailboat racing.


With the advent of Internet fed returns (and it is so easy to do) we can see that the ball game will change rapidly but in the returns there is no field for assessing the skills factor. How do we know if we have been beaten fair and square? And I think the biggest worry is that clubs just use the RYA PYs and do not take part in the process. Clubs taking part should be listed and the competitors should be more supportive and accept that odd boats in a fleet will have PY numbers changed more often.

But hayho the fleet gathered at the outer north end of the line on starboard tack hard against the submerged remains of the spit with the tide pushing to the line and it was Peter in a Laser who blasted off the line at a goodly pace with Malcolm and Ian ‘Laser 4000’ close behind. In a moment of excitement Peter caressed the first rounding mark whilst over lapped and glided into a 360o turn sliding out the back door. Malcolm and Ian ‘4000’, now lead boat and in a tasty squall, sped off wind down the short leg to a jibe at 0 rounding mark only to find themselves victims of the late tide, shallow water and a full on farming session, also going out the back door. Jacko and Lorna ‘Merlin’ now lead boat and at full pelt approaching Spit-rounding mark to find the marina tugboat pushing a large mud laden batch towards the same spit channel mark from the opposite direction. Jacko’s temptation to pass in front quickly evaporated as he connected with a pair of big white eyeballs, panic struck, pressed against the tug’s windscreen. The rounding of the mark, batch and tug put Jacko below the windward lay line to the next mark Bay and opened the door the Dave and Ron in the Fireball.

Dave and Ron meant to “kick ass” with Dave looking for a balancing of the books having been dealt harsh treatment from Mayland race box with a DSQ for not signing on in race one and race abandon in the first running of race 5 (wind failed) was really gagging for a shutting down on the Jacko jam pot.
Dave is a worthy Fireball racer with many years of race scarring to prove it. Ron is keen and not over fit and the wind now 18 knots gusting 22 and a course designed for the Laser fleet with shy two sail reaching meant that it was race on.
The wind ward legs that was, saw Dave and Ron footing of at great speed while Jacko and Lorna hiked hard and stuffed the turkey. It was all close racing till the final knock out blow came as at last there was a leg you could get a kite on and with the Fireball having 150 metres lead the kite was thrown up only to find that it had been rigged sideways up. It set quite well and as Lorna chatted with Ron on how well the numbers looked horizontally it was race over finishing with a 3rd behind Martin Tarling sailing a Laser and 2nd in race two.

The Laser race was another full on affair between Martin and Peter. They appeared to be attached by a lengthy piece of string planing along the reaches and pushing hard up the beats, mostly lead by Martin, but some real pressure spilling out as Martin’s foot totally rapped in main sheet in a full on jibe was rapidly dragged to the back of the boat and with boat management in the back row Peter was through and away.
Martin regaining control started to wind Peter back in and as the boat length closed Peter got trapped in to rubber necking and took his eye of the wind just long enough for one error to occur and Martin was back in the lead to cross the line with a 20 seconds lead to finish with a 2nd and a 3rd.

As for Jacko and Lorna it was a tough day as Lorna in demonstrating a ‘mambo’ dance move that is quite well known to Salsa dancing circles whilst getting into the rubber wet suit in the ladies changing room (I might add) rendered herself some physical damage. Jacko has been there before and has knowledge of the effects of the misuse of pain killers, the glassy glazed look in her eyes and the unexpected laying down in the back of the boat not a sight a race driven Rocket helm needs to see, and has previously caused retirement due to the fear of verbal abuse when offering to “make things better” and “let me help you out”. It should be said that Lorna is a fiercely competitive lady and has been seen to fly the kite whilst laying in the back of the boat legs akimbo encouraging Jacko to sail better. “Scary” yes, workable? But as a helm you need to adjust your timing and how you present the request for a spinnaker hoisting, and the timing to put in a tack, not to be seen looking healthier than your front end girl. But the in the water therapy on arriving back at the beach always has a calming effect on your pained crew. Jacko and Lorna having survived the day finishing with two bullets and a helping hand back in to the now repaired car.

Thanks to Phil and Paul for taking and sending the Photos
Final race day March 21st at 14:00 races 7 and 8
More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results
Overall

1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval   Merlin                4 Points
2nd   Peter Playle                             Laser               12 Points
3rd   David Islin and Ron Suffield       Fireball            15 Points
4th   Jenny Ball                                 Laser Radial    16 Points
5th   Kevin Whittle and Philip Spill      Fireball            21 Points

Shed load of misery befell the Mayland Bay fleet

Day 3: A shed load of misery befell the Mayland fleet, as a dank grey day dawned with low cloud and a day of light airs sailing got under way, for until now the fleet has had the joy of goodly breezes and sunshine all be that it has been some what a tad nippy.

Nigel Whiting had the misfortune to be in charge of the race box when the fleet came to a standstill against the incoming tide on a disappearing northerly breeze off of the north salting point and after an hour had passed the race abandon flag was flown.

Sad to say, some resentment was voiced by the fleet as for the first time in many years Jacko and Lorna were missing from the racing due to a car MOT failure. The MOT failure and the race being abandoned saving the non sailing Jacko was all a bit too much. The second race of the day was not sailable with no wind at all.

Day 4 was a shocker with a 1 degree wind chill, horizontal rain and 16 knots gusting 25 knots from the north, The BBC weather report saw off the fleet leaving only the desperate looking out at the seagulls flying backwards.

After the pub with no beer the next saddest place on the planet is the sailing club with no sailing.

There is a rumour that the Maylandsea Bay sailing club is to open a new series to dinghy sailors that are not to sure what sailboat racing is all about.

We can see that this will be a good laugh as it is again rumoured that some of the leading Mayland sailboat racers are involved.

Questions like “is Lorna to be giving instructions to helms” and will Jacko be explaining how to run over race marks? All will be revealed we are sure.

But we do know that the galley will be active, that the old salts in the club are a warm friendly bunch, and that Phil the commodore is leading the Splat the Duck frostbite competition. More info can be had at the club.

Next race day March 14th at 10:05 races 5 and 6

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results

Overall

1st   Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval       Merlin 3 Points

2nd  Peter Playle                                 Laser 8 Points

3rd  Jenny Ball                                    Laser Radial 11 Points

4th   Dave Russell and Gary Jackson     Lark 15 Points

Maylandsea Bay Open Frostbite 'melancholy mindset'

Bright blue skies and a light breeze from the west set the scene for races 2 and 3. The drive to the river Blackwater with trees coated in frost and bright sunlight strobing across the roads to the fields glistening in their winter décor, and sadly a greater number of road kill than we had seen a long while, made for a melancholy mindset not akin to taking on the cut and thrust of the days sail boat racing.
The fleet was still down in numbers with some notable competitors missing but more boats preparing than the previous week.
Geoffrey Walkley was this week’s head of race box and the course was quickly posted but the support boat crews appeared to be delayed in the galley. With the river not being frozen over the warning flag was hoisted to time and the fleet removed the finger and made a hasty launch.
Jacko and Lorna came off the start line like a squeezed carrot rounding the first mark well clear ahead and was not to be seen again, followed by Dean and Jono ‘Hornet’ and Malcolm and Phil ‘Laser 4000’.

The race took place in Mayland bay and the top of Lawling creek with the legs being not too long; tough work for the mostly unfit well seasoned sailors such as Jacko and Philip, who now found himself at the front end of a skiff type asymmetric sailboat with wings. Philip who is the most seen Mayland sailor having the highest number of turn outs in 2009, is a credit to the fleet and not shy to take it on and was still smiling having taken a clear lead in the “Splat the Duck competition” with two capsizes in the different boat adding bonus points for the two rolling ducklings before getting back in control of the 4000, plus owning up to it being an error on his behalf.

Jenny Ball ‘Laser Radial’ is putting together good race moves staying out of the tide and rounding the race marks in a smooth well handled fashion, finishing with a 4th and a 5th to be 3rd overall.                                                                                  Peter Playle ‘Laser’ appeared pretty cool, sailing well (we think he is missing Martin Tarling, fellow Laser sailor) and had it not been for a touch of over excitement and the missing out of the penultimate mark 2, which was noted by the race box and quickly followed by the return too and the rounding of, had a good day out in the sun finishing with two 3rd to be 2nd over all.

Dean and Jono built up the tempo in the second start of the day leaving the fleet for dead and leading out to Jetty race mark battling with the Merlin and the 4000. Sadly losing out on the tight three sailed reach to mark 4 off of the north side saltings to finish with two 2nds but having missed day 1 is carrying a DNS.

Jacko and Lorna are showing a little bit of form, with Lorna showing not a lot of face, but a lot of teeth and with the race box commenting, “your first spinnaker leg was as bad as you are likely to see” there must be room for improvement. And with 4 race wins and 8 races to come, ‘the fat lady has not entered the stage’

Thanks to Alan Johnson for sending in the photos

Next race day Feb. 14th at 11:05 races 5 and 6

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results 

Overall

Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval     Merlin             3 Points

Peter Playle                                 Laser              8 Points

Jenny Ball                                    Laser Radial   11 Points

Dave Russell and Gary Jackson   Lark               15 Points

Maylandsea Bay: call that Frostbite

With the sun rising out of Canvey Island and setting in Thurrock it was the best of days with bright blue skies and a building westerly breeze. The wadding birds had at last freed themselves from the ice-topped saltings and were once more flickering in the sky in huge numbers.

The fleet was much reduced, may be attending burst pipes or worse, but the hardcore management team appeared on an upper and it was Billy, The Galley’s birthday, 18 a number long forgotten by the management team but recognized as a Lotto number.

The Race Box this week was in the good hands of Paul Wilkinson. A mid distance course was posted and the fleet took to the water. With space to spare it might well be that the adrenalin was not pumping with the fleet making a casual, almost an “after you” type affair.

Well that was all but Kevin and Philip ‘Fireball’ who appeared to have lost the plot, drifting up to the line with an abstract approach not often seen on the Mayland start line. It was not to be Kevin and Philips day, for later following two crash jibes, a wobble and a broach struggling to round the Jetty mark, the pairing were the first to enter the Splat the Duck competition, and gain a place in this series.

Jenny Ball, ‘Laser radial’, had a good day winning the start and ripping up the first beat to mark one and leaving Peter, ‘Laser’, for dead. Jenny lost out a tad to Peter on the reaching legs but stayed in touch to finish 3rd ahead on corrected time by 6 seconds and in the 2nd race 4th with an error free race to be 3rd overall.

Peter Playle, ‘Laser’, stretched some muscle, sailed a flat boat and enjoyed the days racing having seen off Martin Tarling, ‘Laser’, by two minutes in the previous race (Today Martin was taking a lay day) but Peter always a good competitor made light work of the 14 to 18 knots and showed no sign of resentment at not leading the Splat the Duck competition, finishing with a 4th and a 2nd to be 2nd overall.

Is the Jacko jam pot dripping? “Maybe” and what of the head cam bit? Is Lorna going to tolerate seeing if Jacko is turned on? How long does it take to kill battery life in subzero conditions? A request to ware the head cam hat back to front so footage of the trailing Fireball fleet could be seen quickly fell apart as it would need to be (sideways on to get the footage but then the chin strap would need to be held in the wearers mouth and as Jacko rarely keeps his trap shut it can be, and anyway footage of the lovely Lorna would be more fun than the align trailing Fireball fleet.

And what of the race; well it was not a bad Merlin day and Lorna was gagging for it. The kite work was spot on, all but when Jacko forgot to pull the guy string, dropping it under the bow. The race was full on and with L’s encouragement Jacko was seen to sit out and look nearly fit. The pairing finished with two bullets to be first overall

Thanks to Jacko for the head cam shots

Next race day Jan. 31st at 11:30 races 3 and 4

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Overall    results
1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin 2 Points

2nd Peter Playle Laser 6 Points

3rd Jenny Ball Laser Radial 7 Points

4th Kevin Whittle and Philip Spillane Fireball 8 Points

(above Jacko's Island, Maylandsea Creek)

------------ Notice of series from MBSC ------------

Ice coated puddles, frozen flags and the Blackwater Icicle

With ice coated puddles and the flags frozen to the flagpoles the Mayland fleet gathered to contest the Blackwater Icicle trophy.

A third of the fleet were visitors from near and not so near and added a healthy upturn the spicy mix of who’s who in the line up of line honours.
It was to be a day of tremble and shiver as the light northerly breeze started to fail with Bill Wright heading the Race Box team, which had now taken to the water in the committee boat for a start in the middle of Maylandsea Bay.

By the time the start flag fell the light breezes had headed to the East with the fleet tending to be line shy, notably the Fireball class all but Maria and Nigel, rafting up to join in later.

The short-ish leg to the first rounding mark, laid on the outer curve of the deeper water at the top of the bay, presented a gain and loss decision of more pressure against less tide which split the fleet with half taking to the south side while the rest headed to the north. The north side won with Dave and Celia Charlton rounding first closely follow by Andy Mclver sailing a Blaze and Andy and Derek sailing a Merlin. The fleet rounded mark 4 and headed out up Lawling creek against the incoming tide and a failing wind and another twitchy choice to tack back to the south side or continue on up to Mundon spit on the north side.

Wind now had all but died with the tide holding the fleet almost to a standstill; Neil Fulcher, ‘Phantom’ smacking his lips, was the first to put in an early port tack and nearly did not interfere with Piers and Peter’s ‘Merlin’ right of way boat which sadly seemed to end the race for the two competitors who of had a real chance of taking the trophy. Dave and Celia sailed part way before also taking the south bank and had broken well clear of the fleet to be joined by Jacko and Lorna, ‘Merlin’ having hung on for a little longer. A short battle followed in which Dave went farming and sounded a little miffed and Jacko’s head went into the bottom of his boat as the wind slowly backed to the north east ending Jacko’s bid for the lead. The fireball fleet having stuck to the north side, took advantage of the new N.E. breeze and made good time as they crossed past Mundon spit to Steeple race mark but with the fleet having stood still on the tide and the elapsed time running the real race was back in the mid fleet, some 7 minutes behind. The fleet rounded Mundon race mark and with 6 knots up the chuff and with the tide it was a drag race to the finish line.

Mick Wright ‘Laser’ beavered away holding line in the light airs against the tide to finish 3rd

Dave and Celia having made a good start, and seeing off the Fireballs, being lead boat and taking line honours to finish 2nd.
Tim Riley sailing a Solo making a good start and picking the side to be at the right time, holding concentration in the doldrums, sailed an error free race sorting some pretty accomplished sailors to take the bullet and the Blackwater Icicle Trophy away from the Blackwater River, and very deservedly so.

Notables: Peter Playle finished 8th beat Martin Tarling by 8 places. Maylandsea Bay S.C. had the biggest club entry. The Merlin class was the 3rd biggest class in the fleet. No competitors took part in the Splat the Duck Title. Maria Richards with Nigel Sheppard won the Fireball race in fine style showing worthy boat cool. Nine sailing clubs and eleven classes took part.

Next Race Day is the start of the Open Frostbite Series starting on the 17th Jan. at 12:00 with 2 races
More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks  to Alan Johnson for sending the photos
Results

Overall
1st Tim Riley Solo
2nd Dave and Celia Charlton Merlin Rocket
3rd Mick Wright Laser
4th Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin Rocket
5th Andy Mclver Blaze
6th Neil Fulcher Phantom