Six Marconi Cruiser racers set off early on Sat 21st May on leg 1 of the Spring Cruiser Series. Caroline, Woozle Hunter and Crazy Suzy, all sailing short on crew opted to race without spinnakers, and on the gusty passage to the finish line off Batemans Tower this proved to be a good decision. Crazy Suzy was first across the line, putting her new main sail to good use, whilst the rest of the fleet crossed closely bunched together. Ned Kelly, having issues with her main sail retired and took the short route inside Bench in order to get to…
Author: Peter Ward
Peter Ward
Kicking pebbles on the beach wishing he was sailing!.
After a late launch at the start to the season, 4 Marconi Cruisers took to the line and grew the fleet to 18 boat in BJRC race 3 on Sunday morning. With a lack of wind, the boats tried to stem the tide at the Stone line, but most resorted to kedge at the start. Eventually the fickle winds helped the fleet around the course which used all the inshore marks on the card, out and back, without going further than the turning mark at Bench Head. The Marconi boats returned after 5 hours of racing and Monkey Business and…
The RORC North Sea Race, the most prestigious Offshore Race on the East Coast, has been won by Marconi boat, Woozle Hunter in 2016. Ian & Laura Ivermee, joined by their Fastnet race crew from last season, set off from Harwich last Friday morning in a fleet of 30 IRC racers which included the best from Holland. The race, 180 miles offshore is a real test of seamanship, stamina, concentration and persistence and this year was no different, in what turned out to be a light airs race with very little shelter from the sun. Woozle, the slowest boat on…
Race 2 of the BJRC series drifted past the hard on Sunday, whilst many of the Marconi would be racers, worked to lay moorings or finish the late prep on their boats. The fleet of 15 boats, which included 8 from Blackwater SC, contained just Blue Moon and Caroline representing Marconi, but we hope to be better represented in 2 weeks time. The drift continued all the way down to Bradwell, with the boats that ventured over to the Mersea shore losing out as the onshore winds started to fill. Eventually there was no need to shorten the course and…
The East Coast offshore racing season got off to a good start over the bank holiday weekend with the traditional Burnham – Mersea back to back races. Woozle Hunter was Marconi’s only representative in a fleet of 7 boats, but they set off out of the Crouch racing against some very experienced crews, which included one other closely matched Sigma 33. The Pattinson Cup race saw the fleet taking the tide up the swin in an attempt to beat the tidal gate at the North East Gunfleet mark. As was the pattern of the day, the wind was sometimes none…
With 6 of the 7 races now completed, the inaugural Autumn Cruiser Racing Series progresses to the medal race on Sunday 25th October. This ‘no discard’, ‘double points’ race will be sailed close to high water with the fleet in full view of the club house and everything still to play for. Four boats, Monkey Business, Blue Moon, Wozzle Hunter and McGregor IV could all come out on top in the local handicap scored series, whilst all but McGregor could also win on IRC rating. Crazy Suzy, will have a big say in the outcome as her position in the…
So far the Autumn Cruiser Racing Series has been sailed in very light airs and warm sunshine and has brought many visitors and potential members to the club to enjoy the sailing and our facilities. Highlights of the first 2 x events have been Woozle Hunters remarkable delivery trip both to and from Ostend getting back in time for Sunday morning racing, Crazy Suzy at long last getting ahead of the fleet and Monkey Business’ interesting kite hoists, (did we really see it go up inside the headsail?) and the buzz of the after race banter in the packed clubhouse. The…
On a weekend that saw Americas Cup racing abandoned on the South Coast, Marconi Cruisers battled against the elements in races across the East Coast. Blue Moon recovered from a navigational error in the Blackwater and came out the winner of the IRC class in the Maldon Yacht Club’s Cruiser Salver race. The same BJRC race saw McGregor IV retire, sailing with too few crew and failing to put 2 reefs in the main at the start, with further reefing difficult as winds increased to high F6. All around boats broached, hit marks, or missed them completely. Not surprising then…