Young's in, tongues out!

Young’s in, tongues out!

As Paul Young, veteran of the Channel crossing in an Enterprise, not the Government scheme, falls in the turbulence that was Edgbaston Reservoir, on Saturday, tongues wagged in the Clubhouse; what was going on to produce such an upset, not only causing mayhem at the number 2 mark but a severe dent in the confidence of those who look up to Paul for inspiration and confidence about the state of the weather and whether it is in fact safe to launch on such a blustery and difficult day for sailing in mid January, when the water is just shy of freezing and robust sailing gear is paramount for that crucial bodily protect against the cold and hypothermia that may or may not result as a consequence of a casual plunge into the icy depths.

One member commented on the ship wreck at that mark, “ I was forced to take avoiding action, and in my view I must be exonerated under Rule 64.1(c) as I was compelled to breach Rule 31, consequently Rule 28 whilst try to comply with Rule 22 and taking urgent action over Rule 14, all the time holding my tongue to avoid an infringement under Rule 69.”

Yes, readers, the day was difficult.  The MSC weather toy indicated an average wind state of around 10-11 knots, Force four if you are a Man ’o War, with gusts around 20 Knots.  As it happened, I was doing my exercise routines at 5.50 am on the day and it recorded a gust of 35 knots (see picture).  I was in the middle of hard core lie down exercise following press ups (on a tea bag) and the howls from wind outside forced an anaerobic rapid duvet retrieval muscular movement.  Later on, the toy suggested some big breaking gusts which gives me the excuse for my own lack of performance on the day.

The sailing day started with Tom Davenport, RYA megaknowswhathesdoing Official, leading the MSC junior in starting practice.  As always, well received, thank you Tom.  Many adults watched the video outputs and sagely knodded knowingly as Tom’s advice was lapped up by the pool of young participants.  Knice to see if those adults would apply that knowhow on the water.

First race sorted the men from the buoys and the latter won as there were only four finishers through capsize, carnage and repair.  Terry Gray bravely exposed his spinnaker and consequently gave a credible display of a battered cruise ship on the rocks close to the watching landlubbers in the Clubhouse.  Whose was the mystery woman in orange on Terry’s bridge?     Club Champion, Kevin Hopkins, swept away the opposition, capsizes and floating debris to take the line honour.

The second race, with a diminished fleet showed that strong winds can push you over the start line despite best efforts as the Merlins were a few seconds early.  The Clubhouse was treated to a wonderful display of courageous and less courageous gybes in front of the Clubhouse, one of which caused the crumpling of Rob Kennaugh’s boom. Team Spurr and trapeze artist Jo, having braved spinnakers in race one, spent a significant amount of time digging away with the mast. The team of Dee and Leiper in the Club GP was good to watch from the safety of the shore with plenty of spray like some demented tom cat. Not enough to catch the invincible Kev.

Having earlier watched the parallel carnage over at Bartley, our roving observer commented that it was about the same at MSC. So I wonder if it was easier on the Channel?