Report and Results for BPYC Autumn Race 6 (Trevor & Finn Memorial), 31 May 2020
/Skippers, Crew, Club members and Supporters
After a break of more than two months due to Covid-19 restrictions preventing racing, it was liberating to be back on the water. Considerable cloud cover and a cool wind had competitors donning warm clothing and jackets before the start, but by the time we reached North Harbour, the cloud had broken and we were treated to a lovely, sunny, Winter’s afternoon.
Handicaps had tightened a little, and with two of the main rivals, Blue Sky and Martela on the same starting time, the scene was set for a good race. Of the two, Blue Sky had the slightly better start, leading Martela by 5 seconds. On Blue Sky, it looked like start to Manly would be one tack, but a wind shift and a Manly Ferry required some action by the crew, constantly trying to maintain their lead over Martela. Meanwhile, Conquista, which had started 9 minutes before Blue Sky and Martela, was endeavouring to keep that lead. However, it was not to be, and she was passed by both not long before the Manly West mark.
As usual, our scratch boat, Megisti, had cleared out early and maintained her lead even after the Manly East mark. She was seen heading South again with a well-set spinnaker and Cap’n Hugh and crew Sam intently concentrating on keeping it that way, and keeping the bigger boats behind.
Blue Sky with an asymmetric spinnaker, maintained a good lead over Martela with a symmetric, squeezing her out from an attempted passing manoeuvre at Sow and Pigs. However, the faster Martela achieved coverage and passed Blue Sky before the Eastern Channel mark. Now it was up to Blue Sky to do the chasing, while Martela had her sights on Megisti, still with a comfortable lead even after rounding Shark Island.
Meanwhile, Conquista, which had taken a much longer course between Many West and Eastern Channel mark, had caught up considerably with her symmetric kite, and was not that far behind Blue Sky just after Steele Point.
So it was all down to the final leg from Shark Island to the finish.
However, little could be done in the lightening winds and in one of the tightest finishes in many races, first to last was only separated by 4 minutes and 16 seconds, and second to last by 1 minute and 4 seconds.
Congratulations Megisti on winning the Trevor & Finn Memorial race!
(PS, For more information on the hard-working Trevor & Finn, former stalwarts of BPYC, see “The Carpet Cleaners” at Poets’ Corner on the BPYC website).
