One thing to be said for racing: it gets you out on the boat on weekends when sensible cruising folk stay frustratedly moored in the marina. And usually you don't regret it.
In the current unsettled conditions a lot of people are putting off planned holiday cruises because they can't find the window they want in the weather between the seemingly endless run of deep depressions and squally showers. Meanwhile the racers are getting out, not always in the conditions they would ideally choose, but having fun anyway.
On Sunday it was our club's ladies' race. No quarter given for “women drivers” - despite a forecast south westerly five to seven, we were sent out to sea, with a long, lumpy beat, an exciting downwind leg back towards the harbour, another bumpy fetch in winds now well over 30 knots, and then a mercifully downwind return up the river.
I was “guesting” aboard Des Cowan's Contessa 33 Eclipse. It was Des who presented the trophy for this race, the Eclipse Rose Bowl, more than 20 years ago. The fact that Des has owned Eclipse for so long and has sailed many thousands of miles in her, and knows exactly what sails she likes in any conditions, gave us a decided advantage.
With full main and blade number three genoa from the start, I think we were the only ones who didn't have to reef or change down at some point during the race. And what a joy to sail under that rig she was, beautifully balanced and almost steering herself upwind, despite the “hills.”
This race had two divisions, spinnaker and non spinnaker, with handicaps adjusted accordingly. Des had no hesitation in opting for the spinnaker division, rather to my consternation, given the conditions. When we got out to sea, he wisely decreed that the kite would stay in its bag until we were back in the river. Again, a case of knowing what the boat wanted.
Our chief rival, a much bigger boat very strongly crewed, put their kite up - and shot away from us. But then they wiped out, big time. By the time they were sorted out and going again, they had lost all the advantage they had gained.
We did get the small spinnaker out in the flat water going back up the river, and great fun it was too. We won the race by 27 seconds, and Eclipse reclaimed her own trophy.
I know there are people who think racing is fundamentally unseamanlike, and that it is foolish to go out in strong winds when you don't have to. But going racing whatever the forecast - struggling to make the boat go when there is not enough wind, as well as to control it when there is rather too much - teaches you so much.
And that stands you in really good stead when you do get caught out by the weather cruising - as everyone does, sooner or later.
Although I was the female who had held the tiller, I did not feel I could take much credit for winning the ladies' race. That went to Des, and his great understanding of his boat, and the other two crew, Richard and Julian, who got wet cheerfully and also displayed levels of confidence and seamanship which people who only leave the marina when there is a “sensible” forecast can't hope to match.
