The Westerly Owners' Association - South Coast Group

East Solent (Ladies Helm) Race for the “Comfort Afloat” Ladies Challenge Plate

Jampot follows Scallie II, White Magic and Brassed Off, as they head for the first mark

Line Honours for White Magic

The committee boat Busiris was on station in Stanswood Bay about an hour before the scheduled start. The weather was cloudy with sunny spells, and there was an uncomfortable chop from the SW force 5. We decided that the fresh breeze was sufficient for the long course, which was just over twelve miles, incorporating a large loop, followed by a long downwind zig-zag to the finish line off Wootton.

Five boats assembled at the start line. Four qualified for the “Comfort Afloat” Ladies Challenge category (with lady skippers / helmswomen) with just one boat competing as a standard (token male) entry. The start line had a slight bias, with the committee boat at the upwind end, and the competitors made use of this, which gave us an excellent view of them as they passed close under our stern. Scallie II was first across the line, followed 20 seconds later by Brassed Off and White Magic, sailing side-by-side. Jampot was next, followed by Kingfisher.

As they disappeared into the distance, the committee boat weighed anchor and set off for the finish line, meeting up briefly with some of the competitors off as they sailed past Cowes and rounded the West Ryde Middle buoy, for the beat up towards Hill Head.

The Committee Boat then anchored for the finish, just south of Mother Bank buoy, and waited for the arrival of the fleet. We were not kept waiting very long; within twenty minutes White Magic came flying down the final leg in fine style to take the Line Honours, in just a shade over two hours.

She was followed in steady succession by Jampot, Brassed Off, Scallie II and Kingfisher, over the following twenty minutes.

With the allowance for handicaps, the corrected times were all very close, with the first three boats all finishing within 22 seconds of each other, and Scallie II’s winning margin of just 10 seconds showed how critical her 20-second lead at the start line was!

The full results were as follows:

Kingfisher, the token male entrant, finished with a corrected time of 2h 13m 26s.
Certificates and engraved presentation glasses for Line Honours and for First, Second and Third boats on handicap were presented at the Hornet Sailing Club dinner on the Sunday Night. Thanks and very well done to all those who took part. Wendy Callear’s personal account of the race will be published in the WOA Winter Magazine (December 2009).