What does an aramid mainsail look like?
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
In at the Deep End
Class communications
Diary Notes
Wednesday evening (and afternoon) races
Beware the (T)Ides of March
Swallow Class Captain designate
But First.
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Swallow News is happy to add its own tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, whom so many of us have raced alongside at Cowes, some, perhaps, even danced with at a Ball.
A dedicated sailor, he was seen in earlier days helming Flying Fifteen 192 ‘Coweslip’ with Uffa Fox as crew. Subsequently he helmed the Yeomans with the Aishers. Although many know that International Dragon ‘Bluebottle’, also sail number 192, was a wedding present to the Royal Couple from the Island Sailing Club, fewer know that she (still wooden!) will be racing in the Edinburgh Cup at the Royal Forth YC in July this year having been restored by David Heritage Racing Yachts, Cowes, the new Swallow builder.
In addition to being RYA President and RYS Admiral he took on the post of RYS Commodore from 1962 to 1968. He is credited with making many of the changes we see today in The Squadron and Cowes, such as the idea of two Rear Commodores – Sailing and Administration – and the creation of the Cowes Combined Clubs.
During the years when the Royal Yacht was a fixture at Cowes Week Swallow News for one recalls many tricky gibes taking place in attempts to avoid a collisions with Royal property. In fact, one of our fleet recalls advice to a dithering helm ‘ … either we gibe now or we join Prince Philip for tea!’
The Duke will be missed as someone overcame huge childhood disruption to make an unforgettable impact in so many spheres.
In at the Deep End
A small but quality fleet of Swallows convened to contest the Deep End Trophy season opener over a cool but generally sunny Easter weekend. In race one Gwaihir, helmed by Mark Struckett was quick out of the blocks and soon built a commanding lead but as they completed their third lap of the three lap windward/leeward course they noticed that the rest of the fleet had decided they had completed the course after two and headed for the finish! Some fun for PRO Chris Froy to resolve! In the second race Gwaihir, with their full race team of Mike, Mark and Charles on board continued to enjoy the shifting northerly breeze again building a good lead. Solitude, with Adam Levitt joining Andrew Reid second and, uncharacteristically, Skua third with Robin Knibb standing in for Prue.
After an hours postponement waiting for wind Sunday’s racing got under way under the direction of PRO Joe Burnie. After Harry and Robin spent some time reassembling their up side down kite the order coming into to the bottom mark was Archon, sailed by Malcolm Green and Chris Creak, followed by Skua. Solitude, now with John Houghton guesting was third with Gwaihir, today crewed by Rachael Struckett, bringing up the rear after a short spell on the putty soon after the start. John Tremlett, watching all the fleets rounding Park (the leeward mark) asked afterwards where Gwaihir get their magic wands from? Archon’s winter layoff resulted in them rounding Park to port(!) and in the process took out Skua. In the fracas Solitude gave away an overlap leaving Gwaihir, coming from the back to a slender lead which they then held to the finish.
The wind was up for the second b2b and all teams had to find all the depower buttons as they were all sailing 2up. It was one of those beats to East Head against the tide where it was never clear which side paid until the last cross. Three boats fought it out for the lead the entire race but Skua was to take the win as Gwaihir was judged OCS.
The results are at https://swallowclass.org/results/ Only some of the retirements from race one have been recorded but Gwaihir’s luck holding all weekend gave them the overall win and the Deep End trophy for 2021.
Class communications
A message from Mike, who has accidently become our first Swallow Webmaster!
He says, a reminder to you all to bookmark the “For our regulars” page on our website at https://swallowclass.org/for-our-regulars/ as your “One stop shop” to find all you need to know, or do, before a day’s Swallow Racing. Even Tony says “This is a very useable platform to access all the information we could possibly want to go Swallow sailing. It has links to the full season-long race schedule and to the club “Register to race”, along with links to tide times and the weather forecast. There is a ‘flash news’ facility too”.
Also, don’t forget if you want to read or post on the Crew Search page the password is swallow.
You can also now see what mischief the NSCA Committee get up too by reading their Committee Meeting Minutes. From this week, for security reasons, all AGM and committee meeting minutes will be on the website but behind a password. If you are a NSCA member look out for an email from Sec Carolyn telling you the password for those ‘members only’ pages. The lonely hearts page will arrive in due course!
Diary Notes
For one reason or another we have had to make many adjustments to our early season programme and continue to socially distance on the ferry and ashore. This will continue until 17 May and ‘normal life’ cannot resume until Monday 21 June (rather gallingly just after IKW).
However make sure your diaries have got these key dates noted in the interim:
- 1-2 May The Royal YC de Belgique Plate (4 races – 1 discard if all completed)
- 5 May – first of the season long Wednesday evening races (see below)
- 8 May – the Ladies Medallion (make sure you have a lady driver lined up!)
- 15 May – the Ponder Trophy – 3 races, b2b in the morning, all to count
- 29-30 May – the Norman Moore Trophy – 5 races, 1 discard if 4 or more completed
Or see the whole programme at https://swallowclass.org/swallow-programme/
Wednesday evening (and afternoon) races
To supplement the early evening races which start at 18:10, we plan to experiment with an additional mid-afternoon informal get together once a month to add value for those able to take part. These will be on 19 May, 23 June, 21 July, 18 August and 22 September. The plan is that a separate WhatsApp will be set up to coordinate interest. Contact Sue Hamlyn at her email in the club book if you are interested.
Don’t forget that we also undertake to provide the ferry/SB driver and the 2 person competent race management team on the first Wednesday of the month to run the XOD and Swallow evening race. Expect the call from your CC to help.
What does an aramid mainsail look like?
First down the catwalk was Spectre’s new suit of North’s – looking very fancy. Our header picture says it all. Jonny Pudney said that Spectre might make a more impressive showing with them if he pointed it in the right direction!
Beware the (T)Ides of March
It’s not (now!) difficult to see why rounding Dunes last year was occasionally a bit fraught! Armed with spades and fortified with stamina Alastair Shaw, the RCS and others were doing their pre-season checks on the location of the harbour racing marks for which ISC are responsible and realised that the Dunes sinker had gone walkabouts (how is that possible?!) and had to be re-located back to a safer position.
Swallow Class Captain designate
One is absolutely delighted that, subject to due process, Andrew Reid has put his hand up to take on this role from September. Andrew’s past experience includes dinghy racing in Enterprises and OK Dinghies; team racing at University (and from time to time since); One- and Two-tonners in the1970s; Impalas in Hong Kong; the Sigma, and eventually Swallows! He has previously ‘done time’ as the NSCA Treasurer and Chairman. He and Anthony have a long and cerebral association with Solitude, and it will be a huge benefit to the Class to have his knowledge and enthusiasm in this position.