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July 18, 2005
Nore Race
On Sunday the 17th of July Theo and I sailed Ninjod from the Crouch to the Southend Peir to participate in Benfleet YC’s Nore Race.
I woke at 0400 and attempted to wake my only crew for this specific event, Theo. By 0500 we were leaving the house and we were not underway until 05.38. I had planned to be underway at 0500 but having a teenage son as your only crew seriously constrains your ability to meet early morning deadlines.
We left the Crouch with no wind and motored as fast as we dare. The tides, both in the Thames and the Crouch were not doing us any favours. This combined with Ninjods 2 blade folding prop and a Yanmar 2GM20 ensured that we were not going anywhere fast. We ended up being 30 minutes late at the start having watched all the other competitors past us as we sailed ( engine was off at the correct time ) towards the starting line.
Nore Race 2005 - Course A
There were 72 yachts in our group, we put our heads down and cracked on as fast as conditions would allow. I was loathed to put a kite up with just my son on board. We overtook pretty much everything and we ended up being the 5th boat home. Looking at the times published had my silly son woken up on time I would have been the 1st boat home. While I was disappointed he was clearly angry at himself, he lay down and promptly fell asleep.. GRRRRR Teenagers..
The whole event was run on PY handicap system and I now know that the PY number for a JOD 35 according to Benfleet YC is 860.
Next year I will make the start on time….
Posted by ninjod at July 18, 2005 03:52 PM