Hornsea Race, 31st July 2005

Results

Results are subject to correction - this is what I remember!
(1st correction 22:15h 1st Aug)

It's difficult to set a date for the annual 22-mile Hornsea Race, as it needs to be on a Sunday, with high tide roughly in the middle of the race and not too early in the season. This year it was a particular problem which led to it originally being scheduled for a Saturday. The late change to Sunday 31st July might have depressed the entry a bit. However, seven boats set out, 6 Dart 18s and a Laser 2000. The weather was overcast with a northwesterly blowing at force 4 to 5. A downwind start using method 3, barrels on the clubhouse mast, set us off on a broad reach. The wind direction meant that there was a balance to be struck between the inshore route - better tide, or the more direct offshore route - steadier and probably stronger wind.

As the fleet headed south, the flat sea off Blyth Park gave way to a long swell. This became higher as the shelter of Flamborough Head became less of a factor. At this point Mat and Rich, who had taken the inshore route, were ahead, but Andy and Tina, also inshore, were close behind, with the remainder of the fleet, taking the more offshore route, close behind them.

It became clear that, as the bay curved and the large swell steepened as it approached the shore, that we would have to gybe out to sea. John and Steve went first and although they didn't catch Mat up, they passed Andrew and stayed ahead of the remaining boats. About this point the cat fleet overtook the single monohull which had set out half an hour before the Darts.

At the Hornsea mark, after just over three-quarters of an hour, Mark & Rich were in the lead, John & Steve second and Syd and Helen third. The trip home proved to be exceptionally hard work. If a Dart were to tack 90°, which it doesn't, then the 11 mile beat would require 11*sqrt(2), about 15.6 miles of sailing. Since it wasn't a true beat let's call it 15 miles. By this time the wind had freshened, but the absence of white horses told us it was still no more than a 5. However the sea was getting very rough for small boats, with waves on top of the swell into which we were now heading. Andrew and Tina found another gear and moved easily into second place from 4th. and the fleet settled down to an hour and a half's physically demanding beating into a contrary sea. Too far out and the roughness slowed one down; too close in and the swell began to steepen towards the break and the wind dropped. Mat and Rich opted for the far out path and were never challenged, winning the 2005 Hornsea Race with plenty to spare. Andrew and Tina were second, with John and Steve third.

John Illingworth 1st August 2005