Clean Sweep For Williams Brothers At 405 Splash

The Gunfleet Sailing Club was kept busy on Sunday 25 September when it held the Hobie 405 Splash, with three races spread over the day.  Seven 405’s took part, the craft being specifically designed as youth development boats with a trapeze for the crew and an impressive asymmetric spinnaker.  Large waves and a force 5 to 6 west/south-westerly wind meant it was going to be both a lively and very wet sail.

 

The first race saw Conor and Finlay Williams crossing the start line first in “Old Bones”, followed by Beth Elliott and Maddie Corbett in “Little Bee”, with Brogan Bates and Alex Corbett just behind in “About Time”.  After a hard beat to the windward buoy it was on the second leg, a reach out to the Seaward mark, that Tom and Ed Philpot capsized “Two Salty Nuts” and they frustratingly saw other 405’s fly past as they righted their boat.  At the gybe mark it was the turn of “Little Bee” to capsize and this gave the opportunity for Ross and Caleb Aylen to slip into second place in “Belacssor”.  At this point things got very lively and Harry Swinbourne and Henry Spooner, sailing “Touch ‘n’ Go” found a trapeze wire had worked loose and were forced to retire.  Some very impressive speeds were achieved on the fetch into shore, followed by the reach out to sea, and then it was a second gybe, followed by a reach up the coast and a beat back through the line.  On the second lap it was “About Time’s” turn to capsize, although they were not alone.  After 50 minutes of racing, and on the penultimate leg, Charlie and Harry Spence in “Hobi 1 Kenobi” had closed the gap with “Little Bee” and as the two boats beat back to the line they were absolutely neck and neck.  In the end it was “Little Bee” that got it by just two seconds.

 

 

The sailors all retired to the Clubhouse for homemade Lasagne, garlic bread and coleslaw, followed by ice-cream and toppings.  The talk was all about the first race – the tactics, the rigging tension and boat set-up etc., but amongst all this was a lot of jolly banter.

 

After lunch the second race was held in even livelier conditions.  Sailing the same course it was “Hobi 1 Kenobi” that lead the fleet, although it wasn’t long before “Old Bones” overtook.  At the Seaward buoy the Spence brothers capsized and, as in the previous race, this gave “Belacsorr” the chance to slip into second place; but capsizing themselves, at the second gybe mark.  A further capsize on the second lap saw “Hobi 1 Kenobi” catch the Aylens and from then on it was a tussle to the very end, “Belacssor” squeezing ahead as they crossed the finish line.

 

 

By now the crews were feeling exhausted, but after a short break, when a vast amount of cake was cosumed, it was on with the third and final race.  Once again “Hobi 1 Kenobi” was first across the start line but it wasn’t long before they capsized.  The course this time took the boats down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy and it was good to see the crews hard out on the trapeze as they all beat to the mark.  But for “About Time” the race was quickly over when the mainsail started slipping down the mast, forcing an early retirement.  Having avoided getting their feet wet up until now, and once again taking the lead, it was time for the Williams boys to get a ducking, at the Seaward gybe mark, and worse still hitting the buoy.  By the time they had righted “Old Bones” and completed the penalty 360 the Aylens had stolen the lead.  Some fierce competition followed and on the last leg of the race it appeared that the Williams’ might just stand a chance of getting in front of “Belacssor”, and when they got that chance they seized it, knocking back the Aylens to second place.  A similar position occurred with the next two 405’s as “Two Salty Nuts” and “Hobi 1 Kenobi” came to the finish line together, gaining a joint third place.

 

 

The trophies were then presented to the winners by the Club’s Cadet Commodore Daisy Swinbourne, and everyone agreed it had been a great, but thoroughly exhausting day.