South Cork Sailing Club

Blanquette wins both the Ocean Race and the Ettes Ocean Race.

A strong gusting wind saw a race packed with incident. The toppers were all off the line pretty much together with William Wallis eking out a good lead and rounding the first mark at CastleHaven leading Tom Cochrane with Shane Buckley third. Castle Haven was a difficult mark to negotiate with several boats tacking too early and not making the mark. Alex Biggs was 4th round the mark and Zach Thompson, after a text-book dry capsize around in 5th followed by Abbie Salter Townshend, and Sea Urchin, the clinker IDRA 14 under mainsail only. Those positions were held around Colonels and down wind to North Distance.

The second Lap saw Tom Cochrane and Shane Buckley sailing close to wind together for much of the leg, taking a different and tighter course than William Wallis, which saw Tom Cochran getting to Castle Haven well ahead of illiam Wallis, and Shane Buckley third.

Alex Biggs was fourth round the windward mark, with Zach Thompson improving on his dry capsize with a “dry turtle” for good measure.

The positions held down to Harbour with William Wallis gaining all the time and they rounded Harbour side by side.

On the final beat up to finish line, William Wallis was able to pull ahead with Tom Cochrane fighting back, and closing hard all the way to the line. William Wallis crossed the line about a cricket pitch length ahead of Tom– phew what a great race!. Shane Buckley was third and Alex Gibbs fourth.
Abbie Salter Townshend retired on the second lap after valiantly rounding Castle Haven, but deciding best to miss out Colonel’s and come in for hard earned lunch.

Pascal Tchen, three up in the IDRA 14, crossed the line elegantly some way behind the topper fleet.

Optimist Race.

A great start from Charlotte Mayhew, with Jess Cochrane and Adam Salter Townshend just behind. But Sam Thompson, crossed the start line a full minute and 15 seconds after the rest of the fleet.

Cosheen being the first mark was sheltered from the wind making it tough for the helms to negotiate from the large winds inside the course and the relative calm of Cosheen mark.

Charlotte rounded the mark ahead of Jess Cochrane, who pulled away from Sam Thompson who had overtaken Adam SalterTownshend on the way to the first mark.

The positions held all the way to Colonel’s and then the downwind mark at Harbour and to the finish line.

Another great start from Charlotte Mayhew – and a brave race in strong winds for all helms.

Commentary:

Mini Series – Race 1 04/08/14

In a very light south-easterly wind, the fleet started East to Harbour Mark, with William Wallis first away from the line but Tom Cochran pressing hard.

At the first mark the toppers arrived in a bunch with Tom Cochran leading William Wallis round the mark, Zach Thompson, third and , Alex Biggs fourth with Shane Buckley and Abi SalterTownshend some way behind.

On the next leg to North Distance, Zach Thompson stretched out a commanding lead as the wind veered more southerly, which he kept all the way to the final mark of the race, Colonel, with Alex Biggs closing rapidly on Tom Cochran who was second round the mark with William Wallis 4th, Shane Buclkley some way back in 5th and Abi Salter Townshend bringing up the rear.

At Colonel the entire fleet entered a hole where they were becalmed until William Wallis emerged, holding the lead to the finish ahead of Zach Thompson with Shane Buckley coming through in 3rd just ahead of Tom Cochrane who had made up a lot of ground and Alex Gibbs and Abbie Salter Townshend finishing the course but too far back to challenge the leaders.

A terrific and enthralling race, with lessons to be learned.

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Optimist race 1 04.08.14

Charlotte Mayhew got a flying start leading the optimists off the line ahead of Sam Thompson with Jess Cochran in third and Adam Salter Townshend in fourth. It was in these positions that they arrived at the first mark, rounded perfectly by all helms, and the positions were held for the duration of the race with Charlotte winning the first race, and Sam T in second and Jess Cochran in Third.

A steady starter for these enthusiastic sailors.

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