Cruiser Drifting Race

Published 21:06 on 28 Aug 2024

The final race in the Cruiser evening series was on Monday 26th August.

There were three boats: Seeaway, with Keith Ovenstone at the helm, Innisfallen sailed by Kay McBurney with David Pirie crewing, and Pegasus II sailed by Alastair Johnson.

With fading light and a very light wind, a short course was set round the inner club marks D C Z Y.

The boats started on a run to D but there was a little wind. All boats tried different combinations of goosewinged on either tack, and a broad reach, and Seeaway reached the mark first. Pegasus II followed, just in front of Innisfallen. Unfortunately Johnson grazed the mark and Kay gleefully requested a penalty turn. Meanwhile Innisfallen rounded the mark, and hit it too! So both boats did penalty turns.

Meanwhile, Seeaway pulled ahead on a long port tack. Pegasus II made a better angle towards C but Seeaway crossed ahead and rounded C in the lead. Alastair had to make a tack at the mark as the wind headed him.

As Seeaway sailed on towards Z, the leg became a close fetch, but Seeaway was not to be denied and continued towards the final mark Y and the finish in the lead. Pegasus II crossed the line in a dying breeze. Kay on Innisfallen struggled on as the wind died further, but eventually they had to retire.

This fourth and final race in the evening series leaves Seeaway as a well deserved overall winner, with 3 first places.