Skandia Cowes Week 2008
After several weeks of weather alternating between grey calm and gales, I felt that we were lucky to be dealt a very usable sailing week without too many extremes of weather. It was an interesting week with its usual variety of weather and we had a good mix of courses from both the Royal Yacht Squadron line and from the Committee boat.
There was only one day of very light airs producing frustrating conditions as several fleets were caught at a tidal gate causing much shouting as yachts of different sailing capabilities vied for the same patch of water. On more than one leg of the course that day we would start with the wind from the east only to have it flick right round to the west or visa versa, confusing or challenging depending on your level of sailing expertise.
At the other end of the scale we had a couple of very windy days when flying a spinnaker became a spectator sport, plain white sails giving us enough excitement aboard “Bellerophon”. A great experience for the novices to helm.
This year the Sigma 38’s were racing on their own in Class 5, much more enjoyable as it is “boat for boat” with no handicaps to calculate before a result. There were eighteen Sigma 38’s in class.
The crews range from the teams that race together almost every weekend and produce a wonderful fluidity of movement in every manoeuvre to “Bellerophon” who had a different mix of crew each day, some with a wide range of personal experience and others who were enjoying their first taste of sailing.
In total we had thirty four different people aboard during the week taking either one or a multiple number of days afloat. Thank you to all who joined us.
We were once again privileged to have a small core crew who came for six out of the seven days that we sailed, giving a depth of stability to an otherwise changing team.
A new self appointed safety officer was pleased to report the spot check on lifejackets was successful. No one was more surprised than Martyn who on sliding across the coach roof on a tack caught the inflation toggle midway and arrived at the windward rail with more than self inflated importance. He did manage to manoeuvre himself below for a replacement as normal crewing activities proved somewhat difficult.
A very successful week which we hope will be repeated in 2009 - make a note, August 1st to 8th.
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