It was bucketing rain, it was blowing old boots, and yet the hardy competitors took to the water for the last race of the CH Marine Winter League with Brian Cudmore as Race Officer.
As Leagues go, and given the time of the year, it was an outstanding success with over twenty boats on the water most days and with racing having to be cancelled on only one day due to extremes of weather.
There was some slight controversy concerning the start line as competitors are more used to looking at green buoys rather than red buoys! However, the wind was light within the sheltered area but when the boats put their noses out between the Forts the same noses were almost blown off with winds in excess of 30 knots from the south east with one spinnaker seen taking to the skies in shreds. Nevertheless, we are so lucky to have a great harbour to enjoy racing in most conditions. The fleet were sent on what has turned out to be the usual course for the winter league going up as far as No. 13, with the bigger boats getting two rounds of the course.
After the excitment and invigoration of the keen competition, the prize giving was a somewhat boisterous and thoroughly relaxed affair. It was attended by the sponsor Nicholas Bendon of CH Marine who presented the prizes and it was indeed good to see the return of this welcome and generous sponsor.
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