BBQ Series Race 3 – Round the World

 

Not often that you see this course set at the club, but last Sunday saw Race 3 of the BBQ series the Volvo Ocean  Round the World Race.  Course was fairly obvious given the theme.  Topper Youths and Handicap (of which there were 7) were given two laps to do. The oppies (numbering 2) were set an easier course,  a sausage around mark 8, or as Joe put it, to the Panama Canal and back. Wind conditions weren’t the easiest with a good strong breeze blowing.

 

Following tips on how to round the horn, the racers set off, led by Hadey in her Laser 4.7, followed by William, Joe, Edward, Sam in their Toppers, Rachel + crew in their Otter and David and Tom in their Enterprise and their first race! The Oppie fleet consisted of Jemima and Bea.  The wind conditions started causing problems from the start with both Edward and Sam finding it hard going battling against the Trade winds coming down the lake. But after a couple of capsizes they got their eye in and started making progress.  Hadley was the first to Cape Horn followed by William and Joe having a fine battle between the Toppers.  Hadey was first back at the start after 13 mins with William and Joe crossing the line for their second lap  6 mins later with Joe only 20 seconds behind William.  Rachel in her Otter was back after 20 mins.  After some gap came Sam and Edward, who after their capsizes were having a scrap between themselves.  The kind hearted OOD finished them on their first lap with Sam pipping Edward to the post by a mere 5 seconds!   Meanwhile the oppies were having their own battle and like the Toppers finding it tough going making progress upwind.  Jemima managed admirably and completed her two legs to 8 and back ahead of Bea. 

 

Back to the main race, Hadey finished in 1st place after 39 mins making it all look too easy. William crossed the line in 2nd, with Joe finishing in 3rd 5 mins later.  When questioned how a 20 second gap on the 1st lap had widened to 5 mins at the finish, Joe became evasive implying problems with sea monsters, giant squid attacks and becoming becalmed in the Sargasso Sea.  Anyway good fun all around and well done to everyone for taking part. Full results are below. In terms of the full series Joe and William are neck and neck in the Topper fleet, Edward 3rd, Sam 4th.  Jemima is leading Bea in the Oppie class.

 

 

 

Next BBQ Series is this coming Sunday 5th July  start at 14:30-ish, with the race theme aptly being the America’s Cup !  The weather is looking good, so why not come along with your hot dogs and watch some “big money” yachting. 

 

James Primrose