BBQ Series Race 4 America’s Cup

 

 

 

 

This Sunday just gone (5th July) saw the 4th race in the BBQ series – the aptly named America’s Cup.  The 6 boats took part, slightly reduced from previous events;  maybe it was the threat of  2 US$ million entry fees or possibly the weather. The wind was force 3 gusting 4 at times which was to cause problems for some later.  As part of his briefing the OOD gave a brief history of the Cup, and explained that one unique element of the racing (apart from the highly expensive yachts) was that the starts were running / broad reach starts rather than beating starts.  In addition to make the event more of a spectator event, in keeping with the original, the starting /finishing post by the club house was used.  The course was then a reach from 8 to 6, a run to 7, a beat to 5, and then a run back to 8.

 

The field included in the Handicap class Rachel in her Otter, Hadey + Friend in a Pico.  The Topper class consisted of William and Joe, who were both battling it out at the top of the table, and Rhys. The Oppie class consisted of one new entrant Kate.

 

The fleet found the starting sequence a bit odd at first, but when the gun went off, they all zoomed off to 6. Hadey getting there first in her Pico, Joe second and Rachel rounding in third, with the rest of the fleet behind her.   Hadey, Joe and Rachel, were all neck and neck as they rounded 7. However, the beat up to 5 started to cause problems as the wind increased.  William caught up with Joe, but then suffered a gear failure losing a pin from his kicker and had to retire.   Rhys manfully battled against the wind, capsizing numerous times as the others completed the first lap and started their second.  Eventually, after the boom whacked him on the head while he was trying to untangle his mainsheet from his tiller, he decided that enough was enough and retired.  Rachel was also having fun in her Otter, and after a brisk and fairly rocky run down from 5 to 8 on the second lap, also decided enough was enough and called it a day. This left Hadey to finish 1st in the Pico,. Joe was the 1st and only Topper to finish. Meanwhile, little Kate was having fun in her Oppie sailing a shortened version of the course and also finished 1st as the one and only Oppie.  Full results below.  In the overall results Joe now leads the Topper class with William in 2nd, Edward in 3rd.  Rachel heads the handicap class. The Oppie class has increased to 3, with Jemima still leading.

 

The next and final race in the series is on Sunday 19th July, the theme being the Sydney Hobart Race. There may be prizes for the overall winners !

 

 

 

 

James Primrose