Sunday Racing

Thirteen boats took to the water last Sunday which was lucky for some but less so for others. Lack of wind was to be a frustration for both the two Mid-Season Series races being sailed. However, it did create a most attractive spectacle for those watching in the hazy warm sunshine, basking in the afterglow of the Murray win.

The starters box was a little empty until Tom Owen saw the deficiency and stepped into the breach to assist John Hollies - thank you Tom.

A Pendine-Monkstone-Harbour course was set in the light easterly breeze giving a decent beat to the first mark and a clean start was made by the pack.

The three Toppers in the fleet battled valiantly in the light airs which favoured the larger sailed boats, and one honourably retired way-out in the bay when everyone else had finished.

The Girls On Top in the Grad reverted to more conventional position as Girls Underneath, and indeed were barely visible hunquering down under the decking to help reduce resistance down-wind. No foul play was suspected! They in fact finished within a couple of seconds of Paul Griffith's Solo, but were fourth on handicap, with Paul taking second behind Peter Bower's elusive Phantom, sailed on this occasion in a fully reclined position. Paul Johnson was third.

The course was shortened to a Pendine-Harbour sausage for the second race and the wind got up nicely for the first beat but then dismally failed on the second lap, leaving the slower boats becalmed with some tow-ins needed.

As a result, five boats retired although two Toppers completed their single lap. Results: 1. Peter Bower; 2. David Plester; 3. Paul Griffiths. Graham limped backwards and forwards assisting on one cylinder in the Dory after engine problems, but all returned in good time for the tide with both races run - just!

Cruiser Activity

The pleasant weather brought a number of our cruiser fleet out over the weekend. Ray and Dot were out overnight also Colin James and crew, whilst Rolfe with Trevor planned a trip to Worms Head, but meandered round Caldey and back when the breeze failed to hold. A Drascombe was also out for the day on Sunday.

Sail Training

A large attendance of over 20 trainees turned out on Saturday for sail training keeping instructors and helpers very busy.

Help with the Moths

Even if you are not an ornithologist, your help with the National Championship starting next Saturday, July 11, and finishing on Tuesday, July 14, would be welcomed! These boats are perhaps the most impressive and unbelievable of all dinghy classes and we need to get things absolutely right for these 'professional' sailors. Please contact Tina on 812383 or Graham on 07890 987825.

 

Butch Social Entertainment

Local singer Butch is to provide music with his acoustic guitar in the club on Saturday, July 11, at 8 pm. He has a great local reputation and this promises to be a great night. We are also hoping to arrange a hog roast for the evening so watch this space for confirmation.

Opening times

The club is open on Friday and Saturday evenings and for lunchtime and around racing every Sunday. Bar prices are set low for the benefit of members and food is available at most times.

Correction to Round Caldey Race Report last Week

Chris Bannister and Stephen from SSC also circumnavigated Caldey last week in their Magno dinghy and were in front of some cruisers. This was an excellent achievement for two novices. Well done - and apologies for the omission!

 

Nautical Nips

I was interested to travel over the Humber Bridge for the first time for many years whilst on holiday last week. It is an incredible structure so much bigger than our local Cleddau Bridge which is the same box girder construction. It was the longest single span bridge in the world for 16 years after it was built in 1981, but has now been overtaken by four other larger structures.

Chatting to an enthusiastic local, I was told that the centre span is 1,410-metres long which means that although the two 155m tall supporting towers are both vertical, they are not perpendicular to each other because of the curvature of the earth !

The bridge also bends more than three metres in the middle in winds of 80 miles per hour but this is probably more information than one wants to know when crossing it!

These facts reminded me that there is of course an important nautical relevance to the curvature of the earth. Even assuming good visibility there is a limit to the distance you can see at sea. Do you know how far away you would be able to see a typical lighthouse? Answers next week.

Skipper