Maldon Regatta. Race One

The moon and stars were out on Friday night when we got to West Mersea, and the sea was totally flat, which made for a lovely row out to Robinetta. We got the cover off then headed straight to bed since we needed to be up at 0630 to move her to a deeper mooring before she grounded as the tide went out.

We ended up on the same mooring we used when I rowed to the Packing Shed last time, but this time we had left Worm behind on our own mooring. There is no need for a dinghy in Maldon. Once we were on the new mooring we went back to sleep, which was a bit of a mistake since we did not reset the alarm...

I suddenly realised it was 0840, and the race started at 0900, (although our own start was not until 0920), so it was all a bit of a panic to get things ready and be at the start line. I set up the jib, which is something Julian normally does, and did not realise that the roller furler line was not made off in the cockpit. The sail unfurled as soon as I raised it, which meant we would have to drop it when we were done with it rather than furl it. The top sail halyard jammed in a block when Julian hoisted the main, and there was no time to retrieve it, so that meant we could not use the top sail. None of the other boats had theirs up, in fact most of them were reefed. The forecast was SW 5-6, going W 3-4 later.

We were doing the short course this year, having failed to finish within the allowed time for the long course last year, and it seemed like a good idea when we got out to the start. The wind was strong, I felt a bit weedy having not had time for breakfast... For the first time this year we did not get a good start, and crossed the line last in our class.

The beat to the first mark felt like hard work, but we managed to keep up with the two Cape 19s, Stormy Cape and Swallowtail, and a couple of Sailfish, small cruising Bermudan rig boats who had the same start and course as us. Once we rounded the mark and went on a broad reach down river against the tide they went away from us, although we did keep them in sight. I had failed to print out the course map, so had to follow them or not know where we should go! We had flapjack and a banana each on this leg, and some ginger beer to drink. Putting the kettle on is never a good idea when racing!



We gybed round Gosling, then ran across the river, almost back to the start, before rounding the next mark and beating back up the river. The only other race marks were Thirslet and the finish line. I knew where both of those were so I could stop following the other boats and pick my own course. The boats doing the longer course caught up and passed us as we began the beat. A gorgeous sight, especially since we were not in the same race!

Wind over tide made the centre of the river rather rough, but we made good progress until the stay sail lost its sheet. The end tied to the fore-deck had come undone somehow, but we'd also lost the block and shackle on the end of the staysail boom. I had to go forward to pull the sail down and tie it securely, and got very wet in the process as Robinetta was consistently ducking her bowsprit into the waves.

Once I was back in the cockpit Julian suggested a reef in the main. It would balance the sail plan with the staysail out of commission, and the wind was increasing all the time. I agreed immediately; he was helming and if he found the steering heavy I would find it impossibly so when it was my turn! We would normally furl the jib rather than drop the stay sail when reefing, but it works the other way just as well.

We put a single reef in, and Robinetta did not lose much speed while becoming much easier to handle. The wind was gusty. Mark Butler (of Jimmy Lawence fame) reported a gust of 35 knots. At least two boats doing the same course as us retired. We finished the race at 1300, and headed over to the shore opposite Osea Island to drop the anchor for lunch and repairs.

The main sail did not want to come all the way down, so I lashed it away as best as I could then went forward to drop the jib and get the anchor out. We keep the anchor lashed down so it took a little while, then I had to measure out the chain.... I had a horrid headache and felt nauseous so did not want lunch but Julian made himself a bacon and egg sandwich.

I made a cup of tea and had an ibuprofen while Julian sorted out the jammed main. Something to do with the top sail halyard I think.... The anchorage was a bit rough and I was not in the best condition!

When we saw the results we had come second behind Stormy Cape. Mind you, there were only four entries in the class, and Bernard and Molly Cobler didn't start and Geoff and Kit Platten in Swallowtail didn't finish.