Falmouth Week 2010 A daily report by Mark Osborn Shrimper 245

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1 Falmouth Week 2010 A daily report by Mark Osborn 245 Sunday 8th AUGUST F2/3 Northerly.Crew Toby Brooks Start just off Carricknath Point Early on line, on starboard, so had to reach along the line! Peter Smales started on the one minute gun. He was advised by radio and ran back to the line right into my path. Just dipped his stern but thought I was over, but heard All Clear over radio. Julian down to my lee but Colin and Martin P were up wind. Julian first to tack and dipped all three of us. I tacked next dipping C and M and headed towards the Castle. Julian going faster! He tacked so I did also, a mistake as he stayed on top of me for ages after that. We both were in front of C&M who had less wind out in the middle. Chris Creek catching up each tack and just before the windward mark near the Mylor footpath he managed to get a clear lead over Julian. We rounded third with Mark S behind and then a pack of boats. Rounded Governor and Black Rock in third. Julian had problems at BR and did a 360 shortly afterwards. Then a beat to Trefussis but the wind was dropping. Chris and Julian went for the windward mark again. I headed for T but the wind was all over the place there. Looked behind and saw that Simon S and a pack of boats including Colin and Philip S were getting a major lift. Rounded T first, to Simon s lee. Chris C now back in the pack. The boats behind then got a strong blast of wind from the rear as we broad reached to the finish by the docks. Chris and Simon overtook, Colin was way upwind and cut us off before the finish. Finish difficult to see. We were robbed, windward finishes please as few went into tea. Rank SailNo Boat HelmName Rating Start Finish Elapsed Corrected Bonney Chris Creake Vagabond Simon Sugrue Camilla Colin Campbell Boyers Mark Osborn Alcina Philip Swatman Henrietta Julian Wolfram Nellie Mark Syrett Salt Horse11 Martin Pumphrey Grace of St Just John Ritchie Beng Chloe John Hindmarsh

2 Monday 9 th Mylor..F 3/4 South Westerly..Committee boat down towards St Just.Crew Clive Brooks (Toby s father) Good start at the Committee boat end. Colin was going to push me into the Committee boat so dipped his stern, hardened up and started at speed. Apart from Colin and John Benge I was the windward boat but I had clear wind. Everyone seemed to be heading for the St Mawes coast out of the tide. Wanted to tack over to the Falmouth side so went about onto port and dipped Colin losing quite a lot! Headed right over to the other shore to find John H and Tim Whitaker already over there! I was infront, but no-one else followed. Turned onto a starboard and got lovely lifts and was leebowed as I crossed over the entrance to Falmouth. Overshot the windward mark (by Falmouth Docks) a bit, quite gusty at this point. Rounded Wx first with Chris C 333 just behind. Surprisingly held him off all the way to Bohella and rounded first. Chris had not tried to pass on the windward side. A true gent! Chris was soon past as we started our beat to Pendennis. We went too close to Carricknath Point, out of the tide but less wind. We nearly went to the lighthouse before we set across to Pendennis on port. Colin had by now overtaken. John Benge had come up the middle and got into the lead. Failed to make Pendennis, huge tide, Went onto starboard, tacked to early and again missed the buoy. Tacked again and forced Abigale Rose (Working boat) to tack. They then pestered me to tack and again missing the buoy. Third time lucky, hit buoy, but just got round and then did a 360%. Had not lost a place as Julian and those behind were having similar problems as yet more working boats arrived. Most of the Sunbeams had also done 360 s so we were in good company.. Long reach to St Just then a beat back to Trefussis. Came up the middle and seemed to be catching the three boats ahead but they were miles away. They appeared to be having a close tussle. Then back to Mylor via Northbank. A long hard race with all the beating into a strong tide! Start:Start 5, Finishes:Place, Time:13.20 SailNo Boat Class Rating Start Finish Elapsed Corrected Points 333 Bonney H Camilla H Grace of St Just H Boyers H Salt Horse11 H Nellie H Kittiwake H Chloe H Puffin H Tadpole H Tuesday 10 th.. Restronguet.. CANCELLED..too much wind. Probably the correct decision! We could have managed but I suspect the Bay Fleet, who later sailed in the Carrick Roads, inserted pressure.

3 Wednesday 11th..Falmouth Town NW 3 possible 4 at times, perfect Start by Carricknath again Crew Graham Lee First Race Started somewhere in the middle of the line but had boats to my windward. Tacked towards St Mawes. This pays off each time this week and I only wish that I tacked nearer on the next occasion. I seemed to be in a good position then saw John H way up on the St Mawes shore. I suspect he over-stood West Narrow a bit but he was round first. We were second followed by Colin and Simon. Then a long run to Zone. Colin first then Simon then John, and us followed by Chris C. John shouted at Alan Williams in an Ajax, no water, but to no avail he barged inside. Spoilt John s position. Chris C put in an early tack. We did so shortly after as we were down wind of John, meant tacking through the boats running down to Zone. Wish I had gone further but difficult to judge were the finish line was. Colin just beat Chris C who had made up three places we overtook John who had stayed closer to the lighthouse. Good close race. Pity about the Ajax s making it hard work. They sail so much closer to the wind. SailN o Start:Start 5, Finishes:Place, Time:13.20 Boat Class HelmName Ra tin g 767 Camilla H Bonney H Vagabond H Boyers H Chloe H Salt Horse11 H Alcina H Tadpole H Grace of St Just H Puffin H - Colin Campbell Start Finish Elapsed Corrected Points Chris Creake Simon Sugrue Mark Osborn John Hindmarsh Martin Pumphrey Philip Swatman David Fawcett John Ritchie Benge Tim Whitaker Second Race Confusion over course as course board shows Wn but radio said Windward mark, presumably Wx. Tide now coming in which encouraged more boats down the pin end. We started near the Committee boat which gave us good clear wind. Sailed over the top of Colin who then tacked onto port back to the St Mawes shore. It again paid off. I think Colin

4 was first round. We met a gaffer on starboard, had to tack but made the buoy. Nigel and Rob way up at this point ( 6 th?). Followed Colin, a mistake as we hit the tide as we crossed the narrows. Then jibed onto starboard the far side to the narrows. Chris Creek had overtaken but we slowed him down all the way to Castle. Martin P had led the rest of the pack to the west of West Narrows which paid off big time. On reaching Castle waited for CC to jibe, and saw him doing so. The tide saw following fast in the opposite direction. I then jibed only to hit CC who had possibly jibed back and not rounded the buoy. First boat I have hit in 24 years. I did my 360%, badly as I had to go round Simon in doing so before jibing. Lost about six spaces but had a good beat to Trefussis, keeping down wind of the others and then going for the buoy on port. Over shot the buoy. A solid wall of Ajax s on starboard but luckily one small gap appeared but went down a bit onto Nick Leach in his OD. Tacked onto starboard but was slightly down wind of Colin who was pinching. Tacked but got into lighter air. Julian was not far ahead but too far. Finished 5 th just behind Colin. Martin and JH had already finished. Cause of accident, did Chris jibe earlier than intended and get caught out by the tide. I should certainly have rounded wider calling no water to boat behind and tried to come up inside Chris! A genuine accident I hope! No damage luckily to either boat. SailNo Boat Class HelmName Rating Start Finish Elapsed Corrected Points 830 Salt Horse11 H - Martin Pumphrey Henrietta H Chloe H Camilla H - Julian Wolfram John Hindmarsh Colin Campbell Boyers H - Mark Osborn Bonney H Hogwash H Nellie H Vagabond H Tadpole H - Chris Creake R Haggett Mark Syrett Simon Sugrue David Fawcett

5 Thursday 12 th RCYC. Forecast F3 but turned out more than that F4 / 5 still NW Crew.. Tim Robinson My worst start of the week. I planned to be the windward boat by the Committee boat even if I was a little late on the line. I feared others barging going early in the stronger wind. In the event I was about 75 yards back from the line and probably the last to start. Catch-up time lets go for it. Most boats tacked onto port quite early in front of us. Left it a bit until I got to their windward and then tacked towards the Castle! We were well back at this time, but now started to go well. Stayed the St Mawes side most of the time but should have kept even closer. Tide still running out in the narrow and water rougher! Sixth round the windward mark then a long run to Zone. CC in the lead by a long way. Martin P, John H, Simon S, Philip S all in front of us. Colin C had been catching us on the run but was still someway back. Rounded Zone well, very close to the mark and started a port tack into the shore. We were on an upwind line to Martin and Philip Nearly reached the rocks before tacking onto starboard. My crew then volunteered to sit out. Only the second time I have ever allowed this, but he was young and fit. We started to go like a train and as John H came across he chose to tack rather than dip us, a mistake as it turned out. Although the tide was now coming in we tacked back to port and went right in to the Carricknath shore. Simon and John had stay out in the middle in the tide but was it rougher water, wind over tide. I don t know why but it paid off well and we were well in front on then as we tack back. We then went close to the St Mawes shore, again keeping slightly out of the narrows. We were now up with Philip and Martin, getting in front of Philip on one short tack but by the time we rounded Waterloo we were still fourth. We did not make much progress as we reached down to Governor, Philip second, Martin third. We again rounded well, better the Martin and Philip. Philip had a bad starboard tack. Martin tacked off in front of us but we nearly caught Philip but he just got in front. We continued a little bit and then tacked onto port. Martin had gone right across in one long tack, Philip was following. It was time to do something different. We had no boat close behind and not much to lose. We tacked back towards Falmouth when a St Mawes OD tacked on top of us. We had a good beat into Falmouth before tacking onto port to go up to Trefussis. As Martin came across we had caught up and had to dip him to get to windward for our last tack into Trefussis. It did not look as if Martin was going to make the buoy but he got a lovely lift just before the buoy with a gaffer to his lee. Then the bad news for Martin the gaffer which he had put about was heading for the windward mark not Trefussis. Martin was forced to tack off then jibe. We cut inside and had got up to second. The Committee boat was very difficult to see, in actual fact you could not see it from Trefussis as it was behind a tall large fishing type boat. I finally saw the small white buoy, the pin end and then knew where we were going. The finish was further up today. A brilliant day, great sailing! The courses are better this year, a good variety considering we have had NW wind all week except one day. The start lines have always been good, but we need to be on the line tomorrow, braver! Sitting out does pay, do you need toe straps, yes essential, will I be fitting then, probably not, what ever next, not toe-straps on a but never say never. Next year I might even strip out my boat (do I really need food for a fortnight, a seasons supply a beer, an inflatable, five gallons of fuel, the same amount of water and much more, in fact enough to live on board for a fortnight), move my anchor etc but I expect I will be to lazy and leave it all onboard as usual. I must not get too serious!

6 SailNo Boat Class HelmName Rating Place Points 333 Bonney H - Chris Creake Boyers H - Mark Osborn Alcina H - Philip Swatman Salt Horse11 H - Martin Pumphrey Vagabond H - Simon Sugrue Chloe H - John Hindmarsh Camilla H - Colin Campbell Grace of St Just H - John Ritchie Beng Black Piffa H - John Stuart Black Tadpole H - David Fawcett Friday 13 th..st Mawes Wind still NW Force 4 Crew.Rory Whitaker plus his mate Jake a new comer to sailing both 14 An average start, reasonable near the Committee boat at Carricknath but Derek H took ages to harden up on the gun and reached directly across my path. I let everything flap to slow down and tacked onto port behind him. Derek then tacked directly in the path of John H. Poor old John he has been in the wars this week. First Tim in the first race, then the Ajax and now Derek. I hope everyone did their 360 s but I have my doubts. As a class we should be complying with the rules better. We were soon into our stride and short tacking under the St Mawes shore to keep out of the out going tide. Chris C was in the lead with us second. The boys, the combined weight of a large adult were doing well but we were soon overtaken by Simon and then Philip S. Fourth round the windward mark and that is where we stayed. Jake took on the jib work for the second beat from Black Rock to Waterloo. Soon got the idea! We then reached across to Governor and jibed to Zone for our final beat back to the finish in St Mawes. Julian behind us was not catching but in the end we were not far behind Simon and Philip. The boys had done well. I had to shake then a few times to keep them awake. No doubt they had been talking all night. I recommend this age group as crew, they do what they are told and move lightly about the boat.excellent

7 Rank Boat Class HelmName Rating Place Points Bonney H - Chris Creake Vagabond H - Simon Sugrue Alcina H - Philip Swatman Boyers H - Mark Osborn Henrietta H - Julian Wolfram Camilla H - Colin Campbell Salt Horse11 H - Martin Pumphrey Kittiwake H - Ruth Taylor Tadpole H - David Fawcett Chloe H - John Hindmarsh Saturday 14 th Flushing Wind gone slightly to the north but stronger, F4 /5 Crew.Graham Lee Committee boat was today by Pendennis, tide gushing out. Had taken down the wrong course as the class letters were not up. Martin P had done his usual trick of reefing for most of us to follow suit. Took my out again just before the start and surprise, surprise, so had Martin. Colin had missed the trick and left his in. Started the Committee boat end and got the right course as we passed. Most started down the pin end out of the tide. As we tacked across to them we had 298 on top of us which was a pity. Martin was in the lead, then Colin, 298, 976 then us. Had not made much difference where you started. About four boats went over to St Mawes but this did not help them. We tacked up the Mylor shore and were leading by the windward mark. On the run to Governor Martin P overtook, then on the next beat he kept out in the tide and got more wind. He went miles ahead as we just stopped in the entrance to Falmouth Still second at north bank but really started to go well for the third beat from Waterloo to St Just. Catching Martin, wind very strong now probably F6. Martin was too far in the lead. Good reach to Falmouth. Second but Derek had finished before Martin having sailed the wrong course. We took our own positions in the last race and I got my crew to steer to Mylor under power as I got the calculator out to compile the SOA series with two discards. Although it was a bit rough, wind against tide, the task was complete by the time we arrived. A very big thank-you to Crabbers for hosting our SOA Falmouth Week Prize Giving, a great spread! The Crabber 26 Launch cake was out of this world. The boat was good also. How many owners will be trading in their for a new 26. A few I suspect have you placed your order Nigel! It is great that the new management of Crabbers are sticking to what they are best at, making a true CRABBER FAMILY. I am looking forward to a sail in it

8 Final Series results PoFSA SailNo Boat HelmName HSC MYC RSC 1 FTRC RCYC StMSC FSC Total Nett 1d Nett 2d SOA Bonney Chris Creake (22 DNC) Boyers Mark Osborn Camilla Colin Campbell Salt Horse11 Martin Pumphrey Vagabond Simon Sugrue Alcina Philip Swatman * Chloe John Hindmarsh Grace of St Just John Ritchie Benge Nellie Mark Syrett (22 DNC) Tadpole David Fawcett Henrietta Julian Wolfram 6 (22 DNF) 15 2 (22 DNC) Puffin Tim Whitaker Black Piffa John Stuart Black (22 DNC) Hogwash R Haggett Kittiwake Ruth Taylor 14 7 (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) Reward Derek Holman (22 RAF) Polmaro Richard Waters New Moon Nigel Heslop (22 DNC) Jet Harold Martin (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) Egret Anthony Wickham (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) Woodcock Peter Smales 16 (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) (22 DNC) HLFW 2010 SHRIMPERS Total POFSA One Discard SOA Two Discards Inboards Awarded by SOA position not recorded Unfortunately Colin Campbell was a little bit late to be in the photo and collect his third prize. He had to take his young crew home first This report was written daily for my own interest and was never intended to be published. Keeping a record of where I had gone wrong might focus the mind for The mind will by then be even more puggled. I am sorry for telling Chris C that the drinks at the Whitakers (431) was on Friday and thank Philip S for getting me there on the correct day.. Thank you Tim and Ami. If you have read this far you have done well. Was it worth the effort, why not try something similar next year yourself

9 What will I do differently? How can I catch that man Creak? 1) Should I strip out my boat? Is it really necessary to carry my inflatable, all that fuel, water, primed porta pottie, food, beer, bedding. The answer must be no, will I do it, most likely not, I am just too lazy, is winning that important.. 2) For the last two year I have had a different crew each day, often picked up in the street as I get my early morning paper. I have had some great crew, and provided they know my rules and don t talk whilst I am on the beat that s great. Experience is not a problem in fact less the better and then they do what they are told. Simon S has now got a regular crew, Nick. He is going so much better this year, I should perhaps look for a regular. No, no-one would do that, I get into such a bad mood when I am going badly, no one would come with me all week. In 2011, I will probably stick to my current system. a change is as good as a rest. 3) As previously stated, I doubt if I will be fitting toe-straps, what ever next on a. Yes Tim my crew on Thursday proved that it did increase our speed but on Saturday when there was even more wind we seemed to be going as fast as Martin up wind if not faster and they were both sat out. We were not. Sitting out on a does it look right, no and I only wish the SOA would ban it as in the Sunbeams. Unlikely to happen, but I am too old to hang out backwards. It is about time I replaced a few of my jammers, after 23 years of hard use none of them hold. The outhaul is a long way out along the boom. That has been replaced but still in the same position. Do I really want more lengths of string, no, it works why fix it, however inconvenient it may be. 4) What I must do is buy a proper count down watch. My kitchen egg timers really do not last..don t be such a miser Osborn splash out on a good one, it would have be cheaper in the long run. 5) I still swear by my SKB sails. They are now eight or nine years old and should be fit for about 15 with luck, like my original Rockall ones, so no expenditure on sails. 6) What I won t do next year is take it too seriously. I will remember the SOA ethos

10 FAST BUT FAIR BACK TO 2010 Second in HLFW 2010, not bad, fourth in the SOA series not bad! The lowest discards consistant if nothing else! The first inboard so at least I have got one trophy and that was the one Peter Keeling presented when I first bought my inboard. He was such a good man, it is great joy to have that particular trophy. He doubted if an inboard was as fast as the standard but he has been proved wrong, well in strong winds it goes just as fast and an inboard boat has won Falmouth Week on at least two occasions. The outboard boats are allowed to remove their engines from the water. Thanks to all the PoFSA team. It takes a tremendous amount of hard voluntary work to run such a week. Two wonderful fine evenings for the Red Arrows and the firework display were an added bonus. The idea of having our SOA FW dinner at the beginning of the week was a success I believe. It was great that all our visitors were able to attend also. How did Martin P have time to take this photo of Adela in the Pendennis Cup THE BEST WEEKS RACING FOR YEARS!! See you all in 2011, when we hope to attract even more boats from Poole and Rock, our two main areas for Racing..MARK OSBORN