Yare Cup For IOMs 22nd March 2025. EDCS 1
Saturday morning arrived, and as usual, the first thing that enters a Principal Race Officer mind is, which way is the wind coming from?
Straight to the BBC Weather app and relief the answer is from the SE, this means that at Whitlingham it will be coming straight down the lake.
So decision time, HMS or one fleet, with 24 boats on the entry list a decision had to be made. On arriving at the Lake, it was confirmed that the forecast was right. Decision was made and one fleet was the order of the day allowing skippers the taste of big fleet sailing.
As stated the wind direction was from the East at about 5 Knots to start with , and by lunchtime had increased to 9 Knots.
PRO Vinnie Zammit and his team laid out a simple course of, the start, to a windward Gate, then back down to a Leeward gate, twice round, then to finish line.
After the PRO had finished his briefing, Lester Gilbert who would be acting as the Protest Officer {if required} gave a briefing as to what to expect in the case of a protest, and the conduct of skippers involved. This must have struck home as there was only one incident, and after the skippers involved had a chat with Lester, one retired.
By lunchtime it was becoming obvious that the Trio of Ben Harker, Ben Wallace and Dave Green, all from Huntingdon were pulling away from the rest of the fleet. It was a great shame that Duncan Ellis from the host club and last years winner had Radio trouble from the start and ended up having to retire.
Other notable results came from John Gill, John Hanton and Mark Holt who were 4th, 5th and 6th. These positions were covered by just 3 points.
After lunch the wind started to drop, and the fleet settled down to some steady sailing, In a bit of rain. This seemed to suite some skippers amongst them Ian Nolan from Norwich who recorded 2 wins in the afternoon session .
By 3pm the wind was dropping off, and the rain increased. It was then put to the Skippers that after 13 races would they like to call it a day. The unanimous decision was yes.
I must congratulate all the Skippers on the way they conducted themselves throughout the day, and also to the race team who once again gave up their time to help run the event
Vinnie Zammit
