#sb20 – A gusty Force 4 westerly tested the SB20 fleet on Dublin Bay yesterday evening for the penultimate Thursday race of the season...
Now that we have arrived at the business end of the season, the three points leaders in Thursdays series two, Alert Packaging (Justin, Jerry and Darren), Venuesworld (Ger, Chris and Rory) and Should Be... (Michael, Eric and Gavan) were out in force despite the prospect of having to pack their boats up by moonlight in advance of their trip to Galway this weekend. With the second discard scheduled to come in on completion of tonight's race, things were tightening up in the points race with only three points separating the top three boats once the second discard was applied.
The boats got away cleanly from the start line with Tiger Lite (Niallo, Ronan et al) and Timber (Marty, Alan et al) opting to tack off shortly after the start and make their way out to the right side of the course on the first beat up to Pier mark. Alert Packaging, Venuesworld and Should Be... continued left towards fresher breeze. At the weather mark, it was clear that those boats that had gone left had fared better and Venuesworld led by four boatlengths from Should Be... With Alert Packaging hot on her heels closely followed by Timber and Tiger Lite.
With the conditions not quite suitable for planing, a soaking run down to Poldy mark ensued and Venuesworld, having bravely gybed out left half way down the run, caught a lovely gust of breeze that brought some separation between them and the rest if the fleet. Venuesworld increased their lead to 15 boatlengths while the boats behind scrapped it out with each other. Next around the mark was Should Be... by three boatlengths from Timber who managed to overtake Alert Packaging down the run and slip ahead of them around the mark.
Unfortunately, a wind shift turned the next leg into a one sided beat in towards Battery mark (near Bullock Harbour) leaving little room for overtaking. However, Alert Packaging somehow managed just that using excellent boat speed (must be Jerry's influence!) to get around Timber in their private game of leapfrog. Shortly after rounding Battery mark though, disaster struck Alert Packaging when their main started coming down the mast. Perhaps an errant shackle or a snapped halyard was to blame however their race was effectively run and they had no option but to limp home from there. A short two sail reach back out to Molly mark followed by a short beat, run, beat combination in the middle of the bay didn't lead to any further place changes and Venuesworld comfortably took the race win followed by Should Be... in second and Timber in third.
With one race left to sail, there are only two points separating Venuesworld and Should Be... meaning that we are set up for another nail-biting finale to an SB20 DBSC series next Thursday.
Class notices: next Thursday is the last Thursday of the season (gulp!). In a now SB tradition, the class will be getting together for the end of season supper (ok, mainly a piss-up, but supper is included!) in the RStGYC. Meeting on the balcony for drinks after sailing followed by sailing supper at c. 9.15. As it is the last thursday of the season, please make an added effort to sail and ensure that we go out with a bang! Even if you are unable to sail that evening, please come along and join in the fun. Bring a friend and we can indoctrinate them into the fold :-) Last year the end of season dinner was, in a word, epic! Places are limited this year as there is a push for other classes to also dine that evening in the club. If you would like to attend, please contact me asap so that I can put your name in the pot and avoid disappointment! Look forward to seeing you all there.
