Western Traveller at Thornbury

Thornbury Regatta proved to be a popular event with 9 Cherubs turning out.

Saturday dawned bright and breezy. The Westerly breeze made launching tricky and a number of boats didn't make the start of the first race. Cheese and E-Numbers managed to make it to the start on time and had a good race up the first beat. Both boats tacking close to the shore to avoid the fast flowing tide. This was followed by a close reach out into the river then a spinnaker run with the tide. Badgers started late, managed to get passed Cheese into 2nd…. then capsized on the last mark trying to avoid some slow moving Lasers and Europes to let John and Diggers through to take position across the line.

The second race saw 8 Cherubs on the line. The wind had increased making for exciting sailing. To account for the change in tide the race officer had set a different course which was not so Cherub friendly with a spreader mark that meant that some couldn’t hold the kite all the way downwind! Riot Van led initially however The Zuffle, showing amazing pace and why sometimes just having big sails isn’t always the way to go, soon took the lead. Cheese, E-Numbers and Loco had a good race upwind after the start. The first downwind leg was fairly broad allowing for some kite action although the second leg proved too tight for some. After Zuffle and Riot Van, Cheese was a hot third followed by badgers in fourth, who had a coming together with an 800 with no rights… where they went for an unscheduled swim on the last mark to be overtaken by Cheese again!

Ronin, having given up on race decided to sail down river to the Severn bridge. However after 20 minutes of beating, the crew realised the bridge was getting no closer and decided to go for a burn while being chased by rescue boat!

Thornbury put on a good social in the evening with a tasty meal and Steel Band.

Sunday saw lighter South Westerly wind and drizzle. Race 3 started with all the crews on the foredecks and short tacking up the shore to keep out the tide. Riot Van showed better pace in the light airs and led to the finish. E-Numbers initially in second got overtaken by Atum Bom as the breeze freshened.

Race 4 saw only 4 cherubs on the line, the remaining 2 starting behind. With a slacker tide and a slight shift the beat wasn’t so onerous, and a little more wind filled in. Riot Van, Zuffle and Atum all started at the pin end in a bunch with Riot Van getting slightly ahead (courtesy of Davro not being as aggressive as any furball sailor would have been, thanks!) and an amazing tacking battle developed between Riot Van and Atum Bom who did 2 laps with Atum on Riot Vans transom all the way. In the end Riot Van staving off the challenge to take line honours.

This leaves us in an interesting position in the travellers, 3 open meetings and 3 different winners. Graham and Eddy currently lead on 8pts, with Alex and Tim in second, 4 behind and Andy and Jill Peters in 3rd. Sunderland next…

Results:

Riot Van (9DNS) 2 1 1 4

Cheese 2 3 4 (5) 9

E Numbers 1 6 3 (10DNS) 10

Pasta (9DNS) 1 9DNF 3 13

Badgers 3 4 6 (10DNS) 13

Atum Bom (10DNC) 10DNC 2 2 14

Loco (9DNS) 5 5 6 16

EJ (8DNF) 8 DNF 7 4 19

Ronin 9DNS 8DNF (10DNS) 10DNS 27