The annual Richmond Yacht Club barn burner got off to a wet, gray start, as the weather god tussled between giving the fleet a trick or a treat. Saturdays buoy races set out on 3 courses, Southampton The Circle and Deep Water for divided the 152 strong fleet into 21 classes, 7 on each.
With light breezes in the 5-6 knot range and courses of just 1.5 miles, once around, (except the Deep water course) the committee kept things moving, although slowly. A few bands of showers dampened the participants but not the spirits during the midst of race 2. In race 3 a huge shift swung through with a tad more breeze in the 8-9 knot range, and changed the course from a Windward leeward to and into a reach/ reach.
By days end, the clouds began to part and the party on boats rolled into gear…until darkness fell and the RYC’s upstairs became a 2010 edition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with Frank-N Furters, Riff Raffs, Eddies, Magentas and more.
Sunday’s hangovers were quickly quenched with dockside Gin Fizzes and large contingent of the 193 registered Pursuit Race participants sailed gallantly out to South Hampton to the 12:00 first start.
This time the Weather Gods shone brightly upon the fleet, basking them with brilliant sunshine and a gentle if not fickle breeze. The fleet initially broke into two factions, the Clockwise round Alcatraz then Angel Island takers and the Counter Clockwise, Raccoon Straits to Knox to Alcatraz gang.
It became apparent to many of the CCW gang that the wind was severely lacking in the lee of Angle Island, and many shifted back to a CW course and got an un-expected wind shift and breeze enhancement all the way to Point Blunt.
Rounding Alcatraz, the CW’s had enough breeze to carry white sails to the slot and with a little assist from the ebb and a gently building south westerly, were able to set chutes and carry them into Raccoon Straits. Attempt to buck the still flowing ebb, the edges were favored and for moments, it appeared enough breeze to punch though the swirling currents. Wind lessened for a while and the whole straights looked like a water skiers paradise for a while as the water glassed over, extending then race into late innings…
Meanwhile the CCW boats which were able to sneak through Raccoon Straights earlier were enjoying a bit of westerly in the slot from Treasure Island and across the circle.
In the end, Scott Easom, sailing his newly acquired Mumm 30, 8 Ball was able to eecked past Richard Coucirers Farr 36 Wicked and Sylvain Barrielle’s Archambault 40, Ciao!
85 Boats were able to complete the course out of 176 starters, but keep in mind there was Trick or Treating to do and a World Series Game to watch!
Courtesy of Eric Simonson and Sail-World
