This year I decided it would be a great learning experience for myself and Eve to try out the RS400 National Championship in Pwhelli North Wales. Paul Oakey had also decided to attend with Mark Oakey as crew (which ensured I had much needed assistance in erecting my tent). For those who have not sailed from this location it is approximately 7 hours drive when towing a boat from Portchester, but dont let this put you off as it is a beatiful location and a well organised club. I do however recommend getting their a day early and setting up tents and boats in preparation as this will provide the chance to relax, prepare and even check out the stunning surroundings.
Racing started on Saturday for a 4 day event and a schedule of 2-3 races per day (10 races planned in total). After final checks we were ready to go and set off with boat through the dunes down to the beach where the 60 boat fleet had amassed. A freshening breeze with some good gusts sent us on a fast run to the start and with some practice spinnaker gybes all was looking good, we felt it was going to be our day. The dinghy briefing described how to gate start which was a concern as I had not encountered one for many years, but some coaching by Paul Oakey (once I did what I was told) proved very useful.

The first race and the first beat, we rounded the windward mark in mid fleet and the boat speed felt good. We set off on the spinnaker run surfing at speed down medium height waves and managed to nail the first gybe, soon followed by a call of starboard and a quick unplanned second gybe.... Once we recovered the boat from a combination of turtle positions and rescue boat assistance our racing was over for the day with 2 DNFs recorded.. Sea water was still coming out of Eve 6 hours later, as she described searching for that all important air under the boat in full capsize. I am now reliably informed that the air pocket does not exist. Team Oakey had delivered much more respectable results of 29th and 26th for the two races.
The second day had 25mph with 40mph gusts forecasts. One look into the crews eyes said that the only hiking today would be over hills and not around the race course. In any case, the races were cancelled and all had the opportunity to try karting, walking or drinking... with some completing all the above. Thanks to Paul and Mark's erection skills, our tent made it through the night which is more than I can say for my wind break.

Day 3 and we were bottom of the table and already sailing for the experience. After being forced to promise a dry day sailing, I convinced Eve to leave the tent in variable breezes and the race officer planned 4 races to recover from the previous races lost. The wind span like a top and eventually settled on a Force 2-3. This proved challenging and with 7 hours spent on the water the fleet registered only 3 results. It is clear that to benefit from gate starts in big fleets, more practice was required, as we were always down after the first leg, from not gaining clear wind and water lanes (Adam Bowers, I should have listened). Three results in the forties were recorded with our best a 43rd. This was not going to be our regatta, however Paul and Mark were starting to get into their stride, leading at the Windward mark in one race, only relinquishing the lead due to a change of wind direction to register a 9th as their best result so far.
Day 4 and the last day of sailing. An early start in bright sunshine and the tent was put away after an early breakfast of porridge for that all important staying power. Light winds forecast and a predictable delay before the beachmaster allowed boats to set sail. Force 2 and "ploppy" conditions are not my forte and my starting skills were tested to the maximum. We managed to register a 41st and a 38th, but with the limited races sailed a DNF result had to be counted and this relegated us to 51st overall. Team Oakey did a much better job in flying the Portchester flag, by scoring a race win in the days first race to end the regatta in a respectable 16th position overall.

Home again and already thinking about Weymouth for next year as the experience has not put us off. It is a tough event make no mistake, but you cannot help think that the challenge and the experience is worth it. Just dont forget your snorkel.

Details of booking RYA powerboat and shorebased courses for the autumn and winter are now out, plus information on fun day and the RYA zone championships. Full details can be found in the Training Newsletter - August 2010, available to view within the members downloads section (under sailing), or by contacting courses@portchestersc.com

Another fabulous weekend dinghy sailing for the second and final SuperCup weekend of 2010. Force 3-4 winds and sunshine arrived for both days (as promised) and some excellent courses laid off the castle offered great racing and fun sailing for all those who took part. With approximately 25 boats taking part and a healthy showing from Juniors and Seniors alike, the racing series was completed with another 4 closely contested races.

The weekend finished with 1st and 2nd position having equal points and John Powell winning the weekends event on the points count back system. Weekend results as follows.

1st John Powell - RS600
2nd Doug Powell and Richard Adams - RS400
3rd Brian and David Beavis - RS400

The overall winner of the dinghy SuperCup series was Brian and David Beavis with a very consistent set of results gained across both weekends. A very well done to them both for an excellent result. The prize giving recognized a number of great performances across both weekends from a Portchester fleet totalling 38 boats, with spot prizes and Junior achievement medals for some great "stand out" performances.

A raffle for each start of each boat that entered a race was drawn by our new SuperCup champion Brian and David Beavis with the following result -

Bruce Humphries wins the family Dockyard ticket and the free meal at the Watermark restaurant in Port Solent and Gerald Anderson wins the runner up prize of Marine Superstore vouchers. Many other welcome prizes were distributed across the fleet.

Special thanks to our sponsors -
Crewsaver Gosport
Force 4 Chandlery Swanwick
Water Mark Restaurant Port Solent
Portsmouth Heritage Dockyard
Portchester Castle
Marine Superstore Port Solent

With further thanks to all those who helped and made the weekend another wonderful success for the dinghy sailors and also to all those competitors who sailed and made the weekends so enjoyable

Saturday 31st August dawned with light winds and rain, great conditions for a sail to the Nab Tower.

11 boats arrived at the line and were greeted with a tight spinnaker leg in light winds to the first mark of Horsesands Fort. 

By the second leg the wind remained light and the fleet ran with the tide to  Winner .  On arrival at Winner J109 Squibs had pulled out a resonable lead on the rest of the fleet followed by Nimrod, Sitting pretty and Merlin in that order.

As the fleet progressed towards the Nab Tower the wind died to almost nothing and shifted to the south filling to around 15 knots.  By the Nab Tower Squibs continued to lead, followed by Nimrod and then Merlin who had managed to overtake Sitting Pretty.

The wind remained fairly consistent for the sail back via Warner and by the end of the race Squibs finished first over the water followed by Nimrod, then Sitting Pretty, Merlin, Beltana and Temeraire.

On corrected time first place went to Temeraire followed by Nimrod in 2nd and Merlin in 3rd.

The Nab Tower race was also the second race of the 2010 Cruiser Super Cup series.  Merlin's 3rd place accompanied by their win in the Solstice race was enough for them to secure the 2010 Cruiser Super Cup with 4 points followed by Beltana and Temeraire with 6 points each.

Full results for the Nab Tower race and the 2010 Cruiser Super Cup can be found within the results section of this website.