Nab Tower Race Report

NAB TOWER



As ever, the JOG season for Team Whistler started with a trip up to Cowes, the crew house and then an evening imbibing the diet specially designed for optimal performance by our nutritional consultants - beer and kebabs.



A mystery ailment (possibly gin-related) laid low one of the team but hauled another friend from her bed (a restful Saturday vs. a day with Team Whistler - no decision!)



Despite a good early departure we didn't really get our run to the line timed and were still way off at the gun and near the back of the pack. Undeterred we settled down to the task in hand and started to work our way through the fleet, hugging the northern side of the deep water channel and heading for North Sturbridge to get a bit more tide. Electra dropped below us and then Imperator and Alchemist had a tussle, which let us through just before the forts - at the head of the fleet!



As regular readers of our reports will appreciate this put us in something of a strange situation, throwing our carefully planned navigational strategy (follow the leaders) into complete disarray! We surveyed the scene with the same emotion that Columbus must have felt as he set off across uncharted seas and, with a few whoops of joy, pressed on.



We hardened up (yes, it was that exciting) and headed for the Nab, verging on the edge of control but dropping off the desired line whilst Alchemist held up much better. Hard work and with a lot of flogging and near broaches; until suddenly BANG, the ring that the pole clips to on the mast snapped and the pole was flapping around, requiring a lot of shouting until it was reattached. upside down with the guy wrapped round it. more shouting, flapping and banging and it seemed that it was probably time to get the No:3 back up and head for the Tower just behind Alchemist. We went a little early and with the swell heaving us ominously toward the structure we had to tack again to round it, allowing Imperator through.



It was then time to settle down and sail for the forts, and enjoy the sensation of waving at friends in Class 4 as we went past (OK we had started 30 minutes earlier but it was a new experience!). We held our line well and picked through the moored vessels, whilst Manaru and Electra had to drop round the stern of one vessel (we did contemplate calling up the vessel and asking to ease more anchor chain to make life even more difficult for our friends!)



Back through the forts, tacking into to shallower water worked for Alchemist and Electra. For some reason we couldn't get both height and speed and even the unwitting help of a couple of Red Funnel ferries couldn't prevent both Electra and Imperator getting through us. hey ho - back to Cowes for more beer and kebabs!