Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Puma Wins St Malo Malo Race in Class 1!!
With almost 200 boats racing, the St Malo race is one of the most popular channel races of the RORC calendar, and certainly the start area beside the Squadron was very busy. The first starters began in a SW F3, just as the mist was clearing. Puma, Jaguar and Lion all had great starts, with Puma and Jags, once again neck and neck on the long fetch down the solent. Puma edged ahead towards the Needles, but lost a bit back to Jags after their first headsail peel... They did manage to stay just in front though!! The southerly wind was due to build a bit and swing round to the left later in the day... so, tactically, the trick was to head out on port tack and time the tack south hopefully with the wind shift!! As always, though, sailing is never that easy and the crews were worn out with headsail peels as the wind went up and down.
Eventually though, the wind did build a little and swing round as forecasted, and one by one the fleet tacked off towards Les Hanois. After turning the corner here, it was a cracking reach all the way to the finish line. It was a nerve-wracking night for all the yachts, as all that could be seen was a sea of glowing green and red lights in the pitch black night, all converging on Les Hanois. It wasn't until dawn that it was possible to identify any of the boats nearby!
Puma's crew's hard work paid off and they were the first sailing logic boat to finish at one minute to seven on Saturday morning, followed closely by Jaguar, Sidney, Bongani, Lion and Pink Panther and headed into St Malo for Bastille day celebrations.
It wasn't until later in the day that Puma Logic discovered the fantastic news that they had come first in class. Jag's took 5th place, with only 8 minutes between the first and fifth place!! Bongani also came fifth, in class 2, and there was celebrations all round in St Malo for all the crews!!
With a few medallions to collect (!!) it looks likely that there might be one or two Sailing Logic T-shirts at RORC this evening. The prize giving is at 7.30 at RORC and everyone is welcome! And well done to Puma's team for a brilliant result.
With almost 200 boats racing, the St Malo race is one of the most popular channel races of the RORC calendar, and certainly the start area beside the Squadron was very busy. The first starters began in a SW F3, just as the mist was clearing. Puma, Jaguar and Lion all had great starts, with Puma and Jags, once again neck and neck on the long fetch down the solent. Puma edged ahead towards the Needles, but lost a bit back to Jags after their first headsail peel... They did manage to stay just in front though!! The southerly wind was due to build a bit and swing round to the left later in the day... so, tactically, the trick was to head out on port tack and time the tack south hopefully with the wind shift!! As always, though, sailing is never that easy and the crews were worn out with headsail peels as the wind went up and down.
Eventually though, the wind did build a little and swing round as forecasted, and one by one the fleet tacked off towards Les Hanois. After turning the corner here, it was a cracking reach all the way to the finish line. It was a nerve-wracking night for all the yachts, as all that could be seen was a sea of glowing green and red lights in the pitch black night, all converging on Les Hanois. It wasn't until dawn that it was possible to identify any of the boats nearby!
Puma's crew's hard work paid off and they were the first sailing logic boat to finish at one minute to seven on Saturday morning, followed closely by Jaguar, Sidney, Bongani, Lion and Pink Panther and headed into St Malo for Bastille day celebrations.
It wasn't until later in the day that Puma Logic discovered the fantastic news that they had come first in class. Jag's took 5th place, with only 8 minutes between the first and fifth place!! Bongani also came fifth, in class 2, and there was celebrations all round in St Malo for all the crews!!
With a few medallions to collect (!!) it looks likely that there might be one or two Sailing Logic T-shirts at RORC this evening. The prize giving is at 7.30 at RORC and everyone is welcome! And well done to Puma's team for a brilliant result.
posted by Sailing Logic at 9:25 AM
