UK 505 NATIONALS, LYME REGIS 1983
Long-race sailing
at the ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS
Swedish Report by Petter Nilsson, S-7592 ( PDF )
One morning at the end of August, we met at
GKSS in Langedrag, Olle & Ebbe, Krister & Dan and me & Claes. It was only 9
o'clock so there was plenty of time to pack 3 boats, until 10 o'clock when the
ferry leaves. At quarter to ten we finally got going. A bit of rally driving and
various near collisions with trucks, so we managed to get on board this time as
well. Once on board, it was the usual that applied. Food and drink and sleep.
At 11 o'clock the next day we arrived in Harwich and our journey to Parker began.
Even there we were well taken care of by Mike Lawton. We went through the entire
factory from the smallest breadcrumb to the largest Five-oh-Five. Very new and
interesting ideas, especially their new development on the 505.
Later in the day we pulled the iron (Krister at the wheel) down to Lyme Regis.
Arrived at 5pm to a stormy Lyme Regis. Tired as we were, we laid down 3 in each
of our two Volvo 245's, a bit cramped but it had to be done. On the day, it was
a little of boat-care as usual. It was blowing 13-15 m/s so we simply had to go
out and test the waters a bit. Krister & Dan hooked up, but Olle & Ebbe thought
it would be too wet, and stayed in the bar instead.
Next day there was a plan for a tune up race. Good intention to sail in the
strong wind, but the organizers canceled the sailing. Deeply disappointed, we
retreat to the bar and swipe two big ones.
We make a small excursion instead, take the car and drive to the famous
lighthouse Portland Bill, and look at the fantastic waves. On the way back we
find a Go-Cart track. We throw ourselves out of the car and throw ourselves into
each Go-Cart and drive like speed freaks. Gothenburg won this time too. Now we
were quite hungry and find a really golden place. An Indian restaurant, where we
spend the rest of the evening. Really delicious food.
"nice rump steak"
On Sunday the first race takes place. Imagine to start a race together
with 120 505s. Grandious and a lot of everything. The wind did not blow more
than 3-5m/s. Gate-start luckily otherwise it wouldn't have happened. The Swedes
were decently involved. Colclough took care of the lead and Ebbe & Olle hooked
on.
And Krister, I don't know what he does. He tries to sail without a centerboard,
but he mostly drifts to the side. After an hour of fighting sailing against the
wind, he realizes it's hopeless and gets ashore. When you have already sailed
your Hellerup course, you think it's time to go to the finish line, but no, one
more downwind and upwind. Phew. After 3.5 hours the first race was over.
Colclough won. Ebbe & Olle second and us around twenty.
The second race starts immediately after. The same crowding, but now the
organizers had made a slightly shorter course and skipped the last lap. They
might thought it was time for a beer. Colclough won this one too. What a fellow,
goes like a cannonball on downwind and reaches. Krister 2nd, Ebbe 4th and us
around 30. In the evening we moved into our suite, then went to the pub and eat
a nice rump steak, went home and watched The Godfather on TV.
Third sailing: Sunshine and rain 3-4 m/s. The same fine crowd at the first mark.
It's like a corkscrew, 60 boats go around at the same time. Difficult but fun.
Lucky you had them behind you, otherwise you would have been glued to the mark
today. Colclough won, Ebbe & Olle second, Krister 10th and we around 22. In the
evening we inaugurated the kitchen and ate a grandiose Chile Con Carne ala 505.
Really super tasty.
On Wednesday it was a layday. Took a tour to Torquay, where we looked up an
Indian restaurant and spent the rest of the evening eating and drinking.
"the boom went off"
On Thursday it was time for Race Of The Year. The gybe mark had drifted a couple
of hundred meters down. Many were very happy, but not us. Krister tried to pull
the kicker but it didn't go any further. The boom went off. You could see some
slaughtered 505's come in who had tried to set a record on the Holger scale.
Once ashore we ended up in the pub. Lots of lies about today's events, wonder
and speculation on how much it will blow in the final race.
The final race starts with a moderate wind which then increases. Krister & Ebbe
are decently at the top and we are around 12-15, but it's nothing exciting.
Fighting frantically, we try to lay claim to the Holger scale. With an hourglass
in the spinnaker, on a wave top we try to throw the boat around with the crew
ten meters out into the water, but fail completely. Nothing broke. On downwind,
Ebbe & Olle also try but do not succeed either. They got so wet that they sail
ashore. Krister finishes as 5th and we in 22nd.
First you sail a plain old Hellerup course. Then you add a downwind, an upwind,
a reach, another reach, an upwind and a finish which takes about 4 hours. Fair
enough huh. Olle & Ebbe fought hard against Peter White in the light medium wind
and finally managed to win as well. Krister & Dan came to the finish as a strong
3rd and we fought against Eddie Owen the whole race which we managed to overtake
right before the finish and finished as 10th.
When we got down to the harbor on Friday, "we" were very pleased. It was a very
strong breeze and we were to be the rabbit. Well out on the course it was
blowing 12-14 m/s and decent seas. But now it would be the line-start. The
starting shot went off and we started flying. Once up at the top mark, we
noticed that we were leading quite reassuringly. We round up and start to reach,
but where the hell is the reaching mark? Then they cancelled the race as they
always do when you're in a good position...
In the evening there was a party with an award ceremony. Decent food and crazy
English people. It all ended in a big bread war. Bread flew all over the place,
so it was best to look in the glass before taking a sip. Happy and tired, we
found our way home with all the prizes.
"we stayed all night"
The next day we packed our things and drove towards Peter White's factory. Olle
and Krister drove up to Parker again, to collect Lars Reinius' boat. Once at
Peter White we got to see Phil Milanes' famous centerboard production. Real
crafts. There was also Rondar's old mold that Peter built boats in. Very
interesting. We stayed overnight and the next day we made our way to the ferry.
When the ferry had passed for a while, it started to roll quite heavily, so all
the people disappeared to their cabins.
Me and Krister drove rally car on a TV game all night. The day after, most
people indulge in reading various books before we arrived to the big city of
Gothenburg.
Results:
1. Peter Colclough/Harold Barnes
2. Ebbe & Olle
3. Krister & Dan
4. Phil Milanes/John Labbett
24. Petter & Claes
Very educational and fun trip that must be repeated.
From a Heavy Weather Flyer
Only Power
Petter
