Clapham Model Yacht Club

What a great day of racing!

Conditions were almost perfect today for racing on the Long Pong, and the members who turned up enjoyed close racing, race after race. The wind was a constant force 3 running down the pond at a slight angle. In all, six 6M Class yachts made it to the line for the mornings racing. An early lead was taken by Jack won the majority of races in the morning, closely followed by Graham sailing the chairman’s second boat. During the tea break we experimented with a different start line that would give these larger yachts a clear run for the line, on both port and starboard tack. Before the change, the start line was between the leeward mark and the shore, so there was usually a hustle to start on starboard, in the wind shadow caused by the helms on shore.


After tea the racing continued, Graham took the lion’s share of the wins, but the racing remained tight. With the change in the start line, getting a clean getaway was made much easier. Unfortunately Jim had to retire mid-way though the afternoon session due to problems with his rudder servo, but other members raced on until their batteries ran out.

The new line proved a success, collisions and tangles were reduced to a minimum. Although there will always be someone who tries a port start, the longer line makes it more possible to get away with it….sometimes.