Barts Bash 2019
15 Sept 2019
Sunny and very warm for mid September and Morgan was keen to come sailing again. With my friend Jonathan also aboard we set out at 1100 for the annual charity race. There was a strong incoming flood tide as we left the river and we had the engine on full power for 15 minutes or so to get us out but it ran just fine. Once out at sea there was a light SW wind and sunshine. We motored all the way to the start line east of the harbour setting the mainsail and genoa as we went along, keen to get up-tide of the line in case the wind dropped further. A lot of boats were out including a few from our neighbouring club AYAC coming to join the fun.
About 20 dinghies and 10 cruisers racing together. The dinghies started first at 1200 with our start 5 mins later. We got nicely lined up on starboard approaching the line at one minute to go but we were a little late and almost last across the line to start the race. Despite being a lovely day we didn't seem to get Bay Leaf into her groove and we didn't manage to catch up. Maybe she needs a little more wind to sail well. A triangular course one mile around, we got two laps in before the race was ended. We'd got past Reef Knot but hadn't caught the others, some faster cruisers and quite a lot of dinghies lapped us. But it was lovely out there in the sun with boats all around and the crew of Bay Leaf were in jovial spirits. Not sure why we didn't do well, remembering the previous race where we led the fleet, maybe we had her set up wrong, maybe it was the light wind.
Morgan wasn't sick at all this time and we had a great day despite coming last. It was almost on high tide as we came back in so the river was nice and slack enabling us to motor Bay Leaf into her berth very easily. Back at the clubhouse we had beer and barbecure in the sunshine with a good crowd of cheery sailors. To finish off a brilliant day I agreed to sell Elsa to a fellow member so I can de-list her from eBay and hopefully stop those suspicious scam emails! Slightly sad feeling but also a relief not to have two yachts to look after over winter, and one yacht should be enough for a man really.
Sunny and very warm for mid September and Morgan was keen to come sailing again. With my friend Jonathan also aboard we set out at 1100 for the annual charity race. There was a strong incoming flood tide as we left the river and we had the engine on full power for 15 minutes or so to get us out but it ran just fine. Once out at sea there was a light SW wind and sunshine. We motored all the way to the start line east of the harbour setting the mainsail and genoa as we went along, keen to get up-tide of the line in case the wind dropped further. A lot of boats were out including a few from our neighbouring club AYAC coming to join the fun.
About 20 dinghies and 10 cruisers racing together. The dinghies started first at 1200 with our start 5 mins later. We got nicely lined up on starboard approaching the line at one minute to go but we were a little late and almost last across the line to start the race. Despite being a lovely day we didn't seem to get Bay Leaf into her groove and we didn't manage to catch up. Maybe she needs a little more wind to sail well. A triangular course one mile around, we got two laps in before the race was ended. We'd got past Reef Knot but hadn't caught the others, some faster cruisers and quite a lot of dinghies lapped us. But it was lovely out there in the sun with boats all around and the crew of Bay Leaf were in jovial spirits. Not sure why we didn't do well, remembering the previous race where we led the fleet, maybe we had her set up wrong, maybe it was the light wind.
Morgan wasn't sick at all this time and we had a great day despite coming last. It was almost on high tide as we came back in so the river was nice and slack enabling us to motor Bay Leaf into her berth very easily. Back at the clubhouse we had beer and barbecure in the sunshine with a good crowd of cheery sailors. To finish off a brilliant day I agreed to sell Elsa to a fellow member so I can de-list her from eBay and hopefully stop those suspicious scam emails! Slightly sad feeling but also a relief not to have two yachts to look after over winter, and one yacht should be enough for a man really.
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