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2009 - Maldon Cruiser Cup

28 June 2009 - BJRC Maldon Cruiser Cup

The start of the Maldon Cup saw 3 Marconi boats join the fleet, tightly bunched at the committee boat end of the line. Remarkably they all managed to avoid each other and more than one must have been extremely happy not to have tripped up over the anchor chain of the start boat.

The fleet then chased the fickle winds (the Piers race day) out of the Blackwater, all hoping that the sun would burn off the sea mist later in the morning. Once past No10 and heading out to North Eagle, the chances of this happening seemed ever unlikely as the boats ahead and behind kept disappearing into the mist.

Aloha (Blackwater-SC) had not been seen by the group chasing her since the Thirslet buoy. This group included, Countdown, McGregor III and Ned Kelly of (MSC) and Eroica another BSC boat.

Just before this little group made North Eagle, the inevitable radio chatter started, everyone thinking, would the course be shortened.

Countdown then appeared to get ready to raise the kite, whilst McGregor continued to sail the course, beyond North Eagle. We’re still waiting to hear the chain bosuns account, who was on Countdown, as to who got the course wrong!

A little later Aloha came on channel 77 asking whether, unbeknown to them, the course had been shortened, as they were now on their way back from the Wallet Spitway. The tide was now on the flood and at this Countdown retired, claiming they’d be home late for dinner if they carried on, whilst McGregor, now at Knoll drifted off into the mist not to be seen for a further 2 hours, when they emerged at the spitway!. Good job the batteries lasted on the GPS then.

Still behind the rest of the group, although they could very well have been in front as it wasn’t possible to see anyone, Ned Kelly pushed ahead in her attempt to keep up her challenge for the overall BJRC title.

McGregor, had now been overtaken by Atom (BSC) who had crept up through the mist to tailgate Eroica as she made very, very slow progress towards the windward mark before starting the long spinnaker leg back to Osea.

Off West Mersea and out of the mist into a glorious summers day, the only boats to finish the race (shown below) were a good 2 hours behind Aloha, who had firmly shut the tidal gate as she rounded the spitway.

Result

1. ALOHA (Apthorp) BSC (7hrs 12mins 3sec) actual

2. ATOM (Sheppard)BSC (9hrs 16mins 53sec)

3. EROICA (Foulds) BSC (9hrs 18mins 8sec)

4. McGREGOR 3 (Ward) MSC (9hrs 12mins 18sec)

5. NED KELLY (Chidwick) MSC (9hrs 41mins 27sec)

This result kept Ned Kelly in 3^rd place overall after 4 races.

Note: Why not represent your club in BJRC cruiser racing. No extra safety gear is required, and entry is just £12 per boat for the whole season and any cruiser irrespective of size can win on handicap. Marconi has 6 boats entered but we don’t seem to be able to get them on the line. Come on Marconi, let’s not let the Blackwater sailing club claim the bragging rights!

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