Spring Series Race 5

Sunday provided another very light wind day for the Spring Series race five. The light wind forecast was not entirely what our teams wanted to hear! The Reflex 38’s are not renowned for their light wind performance and points are very close at the top of the score board which had Puma 2nd in the series and Jaguar 5th.

We have been working very hard over the past ten days top improve the light wind performance of the Reflex. This has included some rig tuning and trying different sail combinations. The light winds of the past week have provided the perfect opportunity to improve the performance, especially having had both our boats out on the water for our five day race development course.

Both Jaguar and Puma started close together toward the port end of the line. Both were fairly evenly matched up the first beat and Puma rounded the windward mark just behind Jaguar and mid fleet. Puma put in an early gybe to keep out of the adverse tide whilst Jaguar opted for the other side of the course where there was slightly more pressure. This was a tactician’s nightmare; deciding which option to go for. In the event Puma’s tactics paid off and they went around the leeward mark in 3rd place.

The rest of the race was a case of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer! After the leeward mark there were very few opportunities for place changes, except that Longbow squeezed ahead of Puma at the last leeward mark pushing them into a very credible fourth place. In the dying breeze Jaguar finished just before the time cut off in 9th place.

In the series Puma have reinforced their strong 2nd position; just 5 points behind 1st place and Jaguar are in an excellent 5th equal place. With just one race left in the series now it is still all to play for and there is a strong possibility that with a good performance from both teams our boats could both finish in the top five!

Race Development Course Special Price

Due to cancellations two places have become available on our Race Development course that starts on Monday 9th April. (Easter Monday).

We are able to offer a late booking special price of just £195.00 on the five day course for these last two places.

For more information click here.

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Glorious Day Racing

Both our teams were celebrating last night after a superb day of racing yesterday with excellent results. Once again the conditions were perfect for the Reflex 38s with 15 knots NE wind for the first race increasing to over 25 knots on the 2nd race.

Jaguar had an excellent start on the first race leaving Puma trailing a few boat lengths behind. Puma struggled to find the groove for the 1st half of the beat and half the fleet crossed ahead on the first tack. The team very quickly settled in and were exceeding targets to claw back to the front of the fleet rounding the first mark in 4th place. Meanwhile on Jaguar a couple of quick tacks did not go quite according to plan and the team lost vital boat lengths.

At the 2nd leeward mark some excellent tactics and superb teamwork enabled Puma to push into 2nd place just behind the series leader, Vortex. Puma had better boat speed up the beat in conditions that the Reflexs relish and the X-35s hate. At the windward mark Puma was several boat lengths ahead creating an issue for our navigator, whos tactics up till then had been to follow the boats ahead!

Puma carried the lead to the finish taking line honours and a win on corrected time. Jaguar crossed the line in 4th place. Confusion from the race committee yet again has resulted in issues for Jaguar. The finish boat placed her in 7th place behind boats that definitely finished after Jaguar. So, we now await a response from Warsash Sailing Club as to what happened.

The wind was gradually increasing for the 2nd race. The race started in 18 knots of wind. With a strong west going tide and a starboard bias on the line the majority of the fleet opted to start at the committee boat end. Puma and Jaguar started alongside each other a few boat lengths down the line. Both boats had an excellent start.

At the front of the fleet for the majority of the race Jaguar and Puma had a great dual with the positions swapping a few times during the race. At the final leeward mark Puma took the lead with Jaguar in hot pursuit just boat lengths behind. An excellent final beat and a superb lay line call from Jaguar ensured Puma and Jaguar crossed the line in 1st and 3rd respectively. Jaguars time was good enough to secure a 2nd place on corrected with Puma once again taking 1st place.

A superb result for both our teams. The highlight of the weekend was Puma and Jaguar finishing in 1st and 2nd place, added to this Pumas double bullet. What a weekend. Puma is now in a strong 2nd place in the series just behind Vortex. Jaguar is in an excellent 5th place. With two races still to go it is all to play for.

One Space on Jaguar for Spring Series on Sunday

We have one space on Jaguar Logic for the two Spring Series races this coming Sunday. If you would like a day out racing then give us a call. The forecast is looking very good with a 20 knot Northerly wind.

The cost of the days racing is just £65.00