Racecarmarine j/80 raced in this event - got a 2nd in race 1 and a 6th in race 2 - next rounds are on 30th January 

Races 1 & 2 Review from RSYC: Website below

It was the 1st day of racing for the year as we motored out of Ocean Village where there were the remains of the early morning fog and a glassy sea not boding well for racing.

We positioned ourselves in the vicinity of Hover 2 and awaited the forecast breeze, although little was forecast. Fortunately a light NW appeared just after 09.00hrs of just on 5kts which, with no tide running, allowed us to set up a windward leeward course and get all classes away without incident.

The breeze maintained and the sun came out as the boats approached the finish line after an hour’s race. Class 1 was won by Gavin Howe’s Tigris, a J88, followed by Ross Bowdler’s J80 Justify. Class 2 winner was Eric Williams' Love in a Mist, a Waarschip 725, and in 2ndwas Barnaby Smith in his Hunter Impala, Imptish. Class 3 winner was Bob Gardner in his new Hallberg Rassy 342.

It was glorious in the sun but it did result in the wind becoming very fickle but not quite dying away, which enabled the second race to be run, again starting cleanly.

Once or twice it looked as though the wind was going to die away and the race abandoned, especially as the tide had started to ebb, but fortunately everyone managed to round the windward mark and the tide helped them on the run. The test would be once they had rounded the leeward mark, could they make the windward mark against the tide to reach the finish line.

Phew - they did with 2 -3 knots breeze in just over an hour on a much reduced course length. At least it was warm in the sun which made it a very pleasant day on the water even if it wasn’t dynamic racing.

Class 1 was again won by Tigris.  This time Andrew Moore’s First 40, TILT Racing, was runner up. Class 2 saw a repeat of race 1 as did Class 3.

Everyone enjoyed being back on the water and we are all looking forward to the next races on the 30th January.