Saturday 15th May saw the first of three RTYC125 Challenge Days, the first 125 event to take to the water. Mother nature smiled kindly on those participating with the day dawning with blue skies, bright sunshine, higher temperatures of late and a forecast 12/15 knot Westerley. Well I suppose three out of four was not bad as the 12/15 knot Westerley failed to materialise. Instead the wind gradually increased to a force 4 to 5 Westerley giving an excellent, but exciting, days sailing to all participating
There were numerous capsizes and the Safety Boats were kept busy. Race Officer Stuart Buchanan and his race box team set excellent courses for the conditions with many screaming reaches and broken gear, all creating much apre sail talk in the bar afterwards! Such were the conditions that some participants (even Colin Scott!) were heard pleading wih Stuart to set a shorter course for the final race!
Between races entrants were well fed and watered by no less than RTYC125 Co-ordinator Euan Webster and his team who by way of a change had a varied menu and some very tasty baking. Well done Euan - or should that be Julie?
At the prizegiving in the club later Jenny Young presented the prizes and in the absence of Ron Lorimer Euan Webster presented the Yellow Jacket award. There were so many Yellow Jacket nominations for members of the Squib Class that Stuart Shepherd kindly volounteered to accept the award on behalf of the class. Now is that not dedication!
The next RTYC125 Challege Day is on Sunday 13th June so don't miss it! A selection of photographs of the day are available in the Photo Gallery section of this Web Site but it should be noted that due to the Safety Boat teams being kept very busy there is a shortage of photo's afloat!
Bob Wilson
RTYC125Publicity
