Last weekend, Woozle Hunter headed out to an EAORA start line off Felixstowe, in winds in excess of 25 knots gusting 35. All around the east coast racing had been abandoned, but the Haven Series race organisers allowed the skippers to decide whether their crew and boats were capable of racing the 40 miles up the coast to Lowestoft.
On exiting beyond the Harwich breakwater, a number of boats decided the conditions weren’t to their liking, and dashed back for shelter. Unbeknown to Ian & Laura Ivermee owners of Woozle Hunter, one such boat heading back, ApeX, was the only boat still with a mathematical chance of denying Woozle Hunter their East Anglian Offshore Racing Association overall series win.
So under crewed, with their 3rd crew member lacking experience, the ‘never say die’ team crossed the line and headed out towards Orford, between the sandbanks on what turned out to be quite a sail to remember. Twice the boat broached and was immediately knocked flat by the steep waves that tried to roll the boat. Righting itself, yet with a cockpit full of foaming seawater, all crew remained onboard and continued to push on up the coast. True testament to the Sigma 33’s design, the EAORA’s prescriptions on safety spec, and the preparations undertaken by the skipper to ensure the boat and crew were well prepared.
Others retired and returned to the Orwell, but on reaching the Lowestoft finish line the Woozles challenges just kept on coming. With one of the highest Spring tides of the year, coupled with the very strong winds, the boat very very slowly clawed it’s way back up tide towards the entrance as they risked getting swept further Northwards.
Once in the comfort of the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht club, the Woozle team learned that they had finished the race in last place, and that ApeX had retired, but with everyone safe, and much stronger for the experience, which should see them well next season on their Fastnet campaign, the realisation set in. Ian and Laura Ivermee and the many crew members that sailed with them throughout the season were now EAORA champions, with one race to spare.
Congratulations Woozle Hunter, a well deserved win.