Light winds dominated over the weekend as our home club, Real Club Nautico Calpe, hosted the last race in this Spring Series.
The club overlaid the weekend with its own Rumbo Solidario Regatta, planning four windward / leeward races on Saturday and Sunday. The first of those four was chosen to be the last 5 Clubs event.
Approximately 35 yachts competed, several coming from as far afield as Alicante, divided into four divisions. It all got a bit confusing as the divisions set by ratings were not the same as those normally set in the 5 Clubs, so once again we found ourselves racing for line honours against larger yachts.
But as always, we only had eyes for our two main sparring partners, Dale Andar (Dufour 36P with slightly worse rating) and Pajuelin (Salona 37 with an increadible low better rating).
Race 1 we got a good start about 1/4 down the line. The boat end got a bit crowded but we were away on the gun, at pace, and easily found the slot to tack over and work the right hand side offshore where it looked a little fresher.
Here's a link to a video with plenty of shots of Jumbuck going to windward.
Did ok upwind but still found ourselves right on the tail of Dale Andar at the first windward mark. Rounding smoothly, they gybed and worked the right side of the course whilst we went left along with Pajuelin who wasn't far behind. Why did we do that? Clearly brain fizz, as if we thought offshore was best upwind, we should have favoured it offwind also. But Dale Andar got that call right, and opened up an unclosable gap - and Paguelin following us inshore was hard to shake off. She stuck with us and finished less than a minute behind. With handicaps applied it meant three visiting boats (Farr 40.7, Dufour 40S, and Grand Soleil 37) took top places, Dale Andar 4th, Pajuelin 5th, Jumbuck 6th.
So the Spring Series ends with the same series order as after race 4. Dale Andar 1, Pajuelin 2, Jumbuck 3. Not what we hoped for, but quite satisfactory end to our first 5 Clubs season and we know we can only improve in the autumn 5 Clubs Series which starts in September.
Race 2 of the Rumbo Solidario saw us starting in even lighter winds. This time the boat end wasn't so crowded so we timed it well and got another good clear start - and this time retained our lead over both Dale and Andar and Pajuelin at the first top mark. Again we worked the left side to avoid adverse current and maintained our lead down that first run. Both our rivals split at the leeward mark so we tried hard to cover both, and it developed into a three boat match race on the remaining two legs. Tacks and gybes all crossing close. Sadly Dale Andar snuck ahead on that last beat, and held that spot to lead us over the finish - but by less than a boat length, Pajuelin was well behind. Top two spots again to the Grand Soleil 37 and Farr 40.7, but we got the 3rd, Dale Andar got 4th, Pajuelin 6th.
Race 3 Sunday morning saw even lighter winds. At one stage we weren't sure the race would start, but eventually it hit 7/8 knots and away we went. Again, not too much competition at the favoured boat end so Jumbuck got a super start and again, just beat both our rivals to the top mark. Dale Andar gybed to work the right side heading offshore on the run, whilst we and Pajuelin worked the left. It was soon clear we had both got that wrong, so we bailed out and struggled to get offshore, getting stuck for a good few minutes by a wind hole created by the high Ifach headland. Could only bob along during that struggle and watch Dale Andar open out a big lead. Only consolation was our struggle to get offshore was correct, as we opened up an equally big gap twix us and Pajuelin who continued inshore and to the left.
End result was again top two spots went to the Grand Soleil and Farr 40.7, 3rd for Dale Andar, a 5th for us, and 9th for Pajuelin.
Sadly Race 4 got started, but was abandoned at 4 pm just as we were about to round the last upwind mark - sad as whilst the race lasted, it was our best performance of the weekend.
We attacked Dale Andar on the start, pushed them over and forced them to restart, and then covered them really well for three of the four legs. Pajuelin being heavier still, was further back in the light conditions. We managed to hold our lead over both the windward and leeward rounding, and as the winds mid arvo went super light, on the last beat our battered Genoa came into its own giving us more grunt than many others in the fleet. We kept it simple but apparently went the right way, and had opened up a huge lead on not just our rivals but the visiting Grand Soleil etc - and secured a real chance of a top podium spot - as we approached the last windward mark. But then a hooter was blasted by a zippy race committee rib - and the radio crackled to say they were abandoning that race!
Real bummer for us.
So overall placing in the Rumbo Solidario saw the Grand Soleil 37, the Dufour 40 and Farr 40.7 take the three top spots.
Dale Andar 4th. Grrrrrrr. Jumbuck 5th, and our mates on
Pajualin 6th.
Super weekend of racing. Great weather. Learnt lots. More highs than lows. The team sailed really well and Calpe hosted a very nice casual drinks party on the terrace. Big thanks to Sue, Kevin, Edo, Eric, Laurent, Jenny and Gabriel ( newbie pal of Laurent's who was sadly sick for the last two hours of Race4 ) for helping us push Jumbuck so well in challenging conditions - and not breaking anything and risking issues for our upcoming offshore event over to the Balearic Islands.
This final race before the summer break is the Penon Ifach, also run by RCNC from Calpe over to Formentera - and then a return race - end May. Looking like we will go four or five up as its more likely we will see lighter winds this time of year, and that also gives us all a bit more room to sleep on what's frankly, quite a small hot boat.
Looking forward to it all, irregardless of result. Fingers crossed the much patched Genoa holds for the two races, and can't wait to see the new one in August.
Sue and John (here crossing the line to win the 2007 ARC) on Swagman
About:
Married 46 years and been sailing for 35 of those. Keen racers and cruisers starting in Australia and now based out of Europe. From 2004 to 2009 we cruised most summer months on our yachts exploring UK to West Med, East Med to Caribbean. [...]Enjoyed every minute especially the 'rally-racing' and partying with new pals.
Have enjoyed owning 12 different yachts over the years, from 26' class keel boats to 46' cruiser racers. The whole family is dialled into sailing, with both sons representing Australia at Admiral and America Cup levels. The past two family yachts were named Swagman - hence the blog title.
In 2010 tried the darker side with a classic 45' motor launch. It opened up the rivers, canals and backwaters of Europe for a year, but that did not hit all buttons, and yacht racing drew us back.
Got a Scow dinghy for club racing in 2011 and called her Billy Can, got a J109 for racing 2012 and [...]
called her Jumbuck (from the Once a Jolly Swagman song), now having competed mainly in the RORC UK events we've relocated Jumbuck to Calpe, Spain where we aim to enjoy the local club racing.
Son and duaghter in law Rob and Louise bring out our two new grandchildren Georgina and William for this week long trip north on the Canal de Briare to Chatillion Coligny.
This is where several steams come together and helped them build the Canal de Loing to form a final link between the provincial centres of Orlean and Briare up to Paris. The streams between the houses are why its referred to as a 'little Venice'.
This was our first experience with a narrow canal - with a 6 kph speed limit. As you slow down - so does the pace of life. It was like we'd entered an inner kingdom sliding south between the two stunning medieval towns of Moret and Montargis......
Pronounced 'san mammys' this barge working town spans the junction of the Seine and Canal du Loing. Famed as the favoured living spot for English impressnionist Alfred Sisley
A ten hour fog ridden crossing - then rolly seas before we got into Le Havre. Sue kissed the pontoon on arrival................
All we then had was a failing impellor plus a crushed stanchion in the first lock we entered...........
A month away to Chile walking the mountains and lakes, then onto a discovery ship for a week exploring Patagonia and ultimately, Cape Horn. Best holiday ever............
From Turkey in May to the Caribbean for Xmas. We left Turkey two up, spent June in Greece with pals Jude and Viv visiting, July solo in Croatia and August in Italy and then Balearics where Seu went home for a week and mate Brian from Oz came for a weeks sailing. Then Sue flew back and Brian home, we sailed through September to Spanish east coast pals then Lagos in Portugal. Refitted boat for Atlantic and grabbed another week home in UK, then sailed in October to Canaries for start of ARC in November. Joined by pal Gerry the three of us raced in the ARC across to St Lucia and led the Crsuier A Div fleet to finish in 16 days 1 hour - and won the Prime Ministers Trophy!
The journey bringing Matilda from Alkmeer in N Holland down the Dutch canals and rivers, then down the Belgium and French coasts, across the Channel and into Eastbourne and fianlly on to Lymington where we lifted her for the winter.
After some time back in Europe skiing we returned to Antigua with a family crew and partied hard during Antigua Race Week. Like to tell you we did well, but not on the race course! Too many hangovers and old cruiser sails meant we were simply not competitive - except at the bar!
Left in April gales to cross the Med with pals Marcus and Gerry and Sue from Mallorca to Turkey so we could join the East Med Rally from Istanbul. Did not make it and linked up at Ayvalik where pals went home. Did the rally double handed for 3 months down Turkish the glorious coast, then Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, back to Israel, inland to Jordan, then sail back to Turkey. All nice. Possibly best year of my life!
Took our new Hanse 461 in May from UK to Portugal along with Rally Portugal, then onward to the Med and Balearics from June. Fabulous summer with lots of mates visiting with us to really explore Mallorca, Ibiza, Formetera. Brilliant weather, sailing and experiences. Eventually flew home end August having berthed Swagman in Palma de Mallorca where we revisited her several times in the fall.
Took our Grant Soleil 42 Swagman from UK to Portugal with Rally Portugal. Took race crew with Sue and I across Briscay in F8 n'lies - completed crossing in 3 days 3 minutes - averaged 7.5 knots. Won virtually every leg thereafter despite being only two up.
Liked Lagos so did visit Gib and ports along the Algave, returning end August to Lagos where we berthed her............and then sold her once we bought Swagman (11) at the Southmpton Boat Show.