For most classes Cowes week starts on Saturday. Not the Victory class one design, harking back to the time of Nelson ( Ed’s note: the victory class is only 81 years young) the victory class start Cowes week with a passage race from Portsmouth to the island.
Course setter for the day and also gate boat, Zinnia set a course of PSC gate, KB drystack, finish at Royal London (4K).
A small delay to see if Z73 wanted to take part the fleet started, Zinnia opened the gate, a minute later she closed the gate. Z48 and Z54 set of on starboard tack looking for the layline t ok KB, Zinnia tacked a few lengths ahead. To lead the fleet round, a tidy host of the specially folded kite saw Z69 pull out a small lead over Z54 closely followed by Z48.
The long downwind leg to 4K , saw the wind drop and the frustration grow as the fleet compressed mid Solent.
A quick hello from the Leg End Tremlett mid Solent with the dire forecast of mirrors didn’t bode well for the fleet.
As the fleet near Osborne bay, Z69 hard a little moment of backwards sailing caused by… Waggle stickers, wind god’s, poor crewing (Ed’s note: it definitely wasn’t the crew). Saw Z54 and Z48 overtake Z69…
With eyes on the wind filling from the West Z69 dropped their kite first and started to class back the lead, Z48 taking the island side was going to have the full fun of ‘Norris Nadgers’ (Ed’s note: more on the ‘nadgers’ later).
The breeze on the outside continued to fill and Zinnia Z69 took the gun, Z48 found enough breeze to hold of Z54.
1st. Z69 Zinnia
2nd. Z48 Isobel
3rd. Z54 Zelia