After a great start to our season the previous weekend, winning the first two races in the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association series, our 2015 Fastnet crew was reunited and hopes were high for the 180 mile RORC North Sea race to Scheveningen in the Netherlands.
The conditions were good for a Sigma 33, light airs and good weather, which suited the smaller boats, but we were competing against a lot of very fast people!
Delayed in the lock leaving Shotley Marina, we headed for the start line as fast as we could, other latecomer boats speeding along with us.
In the distance the start line was a mass of boats on the horizon, milling around.
Once checked in with the committee boat, we headed for the port end of the line and got a great start, working our way amongst many larger boats up to 1st place on the leaderboard.
Then we tacked losing places to the faster boats.
Most boats went around the Cork Sands, but as one of the smallest boats, we were able to sail over them, gaining back a few positions.
Fantastic sailing weather for us and our colourful kite. Approaching the Black Deep Buoy, to round it to Port, the tide was against us, and the wind died. We dropped our kite too early and nearly failed to reach the mark, along with a couple of other boats with the same problem. We inched slowly towards the buoy, considering dropping the anchor at one point, finally rounding it after a very unwelcome delay. Once round, however, the tide was in our favour and we made great pace.
We stayed in sight of the pack for many hours, though gradually the faster competitors disappeared into the distance.
Another boat had a medical emergency during the night, and a helicopter was sent to airlift the casualty off.
Night watch and a totally clear sky. Millions of stars, shooting stars, and a phosphorescent boat trail, until 3am and skipper wanted the kite up!!
Kite flying in the dark? Fun!!
A stunning sun rise, and other yachts amazingly still in sight as we made our way towards our Nemesis, Smith¹s Knoll, a buoy notorious for problems rounding it, and which has cost us this race in a previous year!!
Approaching Smith’s Knoll, (also known as ‘The Bastard’), this time, we carried a good speed to it with our kite flying and round beautifully at 5.45am.
Now to head for Holland.
One of the best sails in a long time. The boat behaved like a little darling.
Still boats within sight after 24 hours!! A rare sight for us in other years! This year the boat was performing superbly, and was a pleasure to race.
Eventually Holland appeared out of the murk, and we fought for every second in the final leg.
At one stage, the wind dropped within sight of land, leading to much blaspheming!!
Out came the Haribo, then kite up, and so far forward it was a real challenge to keep flying.
11pm (local time) and one mark to go. Round the NAM 22, kite up again and a flying dash to the finish. One of the best night kite sessions ever. We flew in the dark, heading for the lights of Holland.
Every second counted, as much faster boats than us had already finished.
And, across the line. Just over 36 hours of racing and a hyped, but weary crew.
Sails down and into the marina. Heading for beer and results!! Boat tidying could wait!!
We were met on the way to the bar by the RORC officials with the results, and …. we did it. We won.
Beating over 30 boats to an overall win, and sailing less miles than anyone else.
What an amazing result for a bunch of misfits in a 30 year old Sigma 33.
The Woozle Misfits are:
Ian & Laura Ivermee ~ Marconi Sailing Club / East Anglian Offshore Racing Association
Abraham Aarnoudse ~ Twickenham YC
Ian Davidson, Stuart Bracher & Jamie McRill ~ from the Outward Bound Association in North Wales
Onwards and upwards !!
Written by Laura ~ Woozle Hunter galley slave and Kite Flyer.