The reality of not visiting Bass on this sunny Easter weekend was, in a small way, helped by the enthusiasm for some esailing on the popular sailing game, virtualregatta.com . The Night Jar was run as a test, with 7 cadets racing at 6p.m and 29 adults (and a few older cadets) racing at 8p.m.
Congratulations to Henry taking an early lead from Cameron
Andrew & James Reekie, Cameron and Matthew Somerville, Grace & Reuben Allen, Henry Bullen and Jack Exley completed 4 windward/leeward races, starting in Star dinghies and later progressing to foiling catamarans and 49ers! The cadets where much better behaved than the adults, with fewer collisions and windward mark pile-ups. After 4 races Matthew Somerville was crowned champion with 4 x 1st places, closely followed by Henry Bullen in second.
After we clapped on the door step in support of our key workers (mine was speeding on the way home to try and make race 1!) the first of 6 races split into 4 flights started, with only minor confusion, lot’s of collisions and the majority of the fleet either 10 boat lengths shy of the line or 10 boat lengths over. As the 4 flights settled into the racing, skills improved and the competition hotted up. Andy Smith led a few before his internet decided to DNF, Dave Exley and Mark Somerville won a race each but couldn’t catch the Night Jar Champion, Ethan Dawson counting two first places. We plan to race over the bank holiday weekend (Sat/Sun/Mon), with cadets at 6pm and adults at 8pm. We’ve set up a Whatsapp group to try and manage the chaos (and craic) and communicate what’s happening when. If you want to join in please do the basic sailing course on the game then email Paul Allen. The game is a great leveller and much fun in these uncertain and wetsuit free times.