having had an extended break due to the pandemic. We sailed three times upwind and downwind
the length of the bay on a good 20 knots breeze.
The final event of the 2020 calendar was just about saved … the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions took effect on even the biggest event of the season with only some 38 classic boats participating. This combined with the event being split for the first time, with the 25 larger boats racing a week later. Whilst this detracted from the size of the even it was a sensible move which kept crowds to a minimum during this difficult and challenging time.
During the first race of the event Skylark had an excellent start and raced closely with the lighter and narrower Meerblick which was fast in the lighter conditions. However, both Skylark and Meerblick (and some other boats) followed the Sailing Instructions “to the letter” which the rest of the fleet did not. This added another 3 miles onto their course for the first race and the two boats came last and 2nd last respectively. Both boats (and others) appealed for the Jury to discard the race as it was an unfair result, due to the mismanagement of the course, but they would not alter the outcome.
For Race 2 the breeze was a little stronger from the south west and both Meerblick (with professional sailmaker and tactician Albert Schweizer on tactics) and Skylark had another good start. In the building breeze Skylark performed better and raced neck and neck with her sistership Comet who had Olympian Stuart Childerly driving and on tactics. As the end of the race approached with a reach to the finish, Skylark caught Comet and the two boats finished metres apart in 2nd and 3rd respectively, a mere 3 minutes behind Meerblick on corrected time.
Race 3 did not go so well. Skylark had a good position on the startline but in the light wind the lighter boats around her accelerated quicker and she fell back on corrected time. In an effort to win the race (necessary to win the event) Skylark’s excellent tactician made the decision to gybe at the windward mark which was opposite to the rest of the fleet. This never works. As Skylark’s owner was very quick to point out. Whilst the idea was initially genius, and everyone agreed that, the wind quickly died out and Skylark with her white light wind spinnaker was left becalmed whilst the breeze filled in from the south and the fleet sailed away. Unfortunately Skylark finished far from first which did not help her overall standing. She finished the event in a respectable 5th place only 5 points behind the overall winner Meerblick.
On the last night of the event Skylark’s owner announced a Captains’ Dinner. Sean was invited too.
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