by Adam Hilton
April Bonus 1
The Officers of the Day, Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett, were persuaded to take to the water and the safety boat operative, Dan, agreed to start the horn sequence at five to two. Putting these measures in place created a fleet consisting of John Dabbs’ Bosun crewed by Roger H and the three Soloists: Dave Perrett, Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton.
The day was vile. A thick, wet, grey blanket lay over everything and when standing on the shore there appeared to be no wind at all. However, once launched and beyond the lee of the hill, it became clear to helms that there was quite enough south westerly wind to power a race.
The start was from the Far Side to Dam Green and it was just possible to make that first buoy in one tack if one crossed the line close to the weather buoy and had a boat willing to point reasonably high. Then the course took the fleet on a run to Home 2 where helms hardened up to cross to West before running to Pinkie. The beat to the Dam, via Inlet, could be achieved without tacking if the boat was willing and the helm made the most of every favourable lift. Even if these favourable conditions pertained, relations with the Devon bank were liable to be more intimate than helms would have chosen. It was possible, for example, to discover that the water off the point before Inlet was shallower than it looked.
Adam Hilton led the three laps with the Dabbs Bosun second, Geoff Floyd third and Dave Perrett bringing up the rear. Each helm was supposed to record his time as he crossed the finish line. Some were more reliable about this than others but there was little overt dissension when it was declared that applying the handicaps had not changed the on-water finishing order. Adam Hilton went home with a very welcome winner’s chocolate orange.
- Adam Hilton (Solo)
- John Dabbs and Roger Heasman (Bosun)
- Geoff Floyd (Solo)
- Dave Perrett (Solo)
Thanks to all for making an enjoyable race possible.