Sheppy Virgins
Having just finished Ellen Mcarthurs book I was inspired to try a longer race than the 60 min round the cans race at Burghfield and head for the Southern Ocean …Oops I really meant Isle of Sheppy with its mudflats. docks. industrial dereliction and marshes.
I arrived on the Island passport in hand and followed the signs set up by the club which took me straight to the harbour wall where we rigged the boats. After a Brief briefing which comprised of “sail with the island on your right” and “ don’t forget to Duck when you go through the bridge” we set off in fleets of similar handicap at half hour intervals. Mixed in with the three Blazes were Albacore. Laser. Laser 2. Statos and Vortex .and Wayfarer
I managed to keep up with Mike Lyons for the first 100 yards then had a great view of the back of the boat for several hours as we nearly surfed down the first leg of the island on a Run. It took me a good 20 minutes to remember how to get the power from the waves as well as the wind and then started to feel a more in control . After about 30 mins we were starting to catch the Bosun Tailenders who had set off 20 mins earlier. They had set off on a course miles away from the island for some reason which was never clear. Perhaps they had a cameraman on Southend pier who wanted a better shot. We will never know.Turning round the first corner with Matt Rickards Laser close on my heels the Blaze came into its own as we could broad reach. Within 10 minutes I had opened up a big lead on the laser and could see the first Bosun which eventually came in 15 th. The experts apparently were sailing in the deeper water on the wider channel whilst the novice who had no previous opted to go for the high risk narrow channel cutting off a major chunk of river and saving several tacks. No planning just good luck. Over the next half hour I could see Mike in front tacking up the river whilst I managed to get two enormous lifts which saved any tacks till I hit the Ferry Bouy. A Brace of 29er passed close by but I managed to stay quite close to the second as they were unable to point as high as the Blaze and they also dropped the boat to windward in one of the shifts. Two cats and the International Canoe passed me before the bridge which was very difficult to get to and I lost about 3 minutes in not reading the current and the lack of wind. Several boats got quite close to me but I pulled away from them after the bridge and it was about 30 Mins later when the RS 400 and Laser 4000 caught up to me in the dock area. I managed to stay close to them close hauled but as soon as we turned for home they popped the Kites are were gone.
The last section was nearly a reach but the wind was just not enough to plane on and though I was Pipped to the line by another couple of cats I still beat them on Handicap.
Getting the boat out of the water was a challenge and the only damage sustained during the day was a minor Ding to the rudder . Several other boats fared a lot worse with fibre glass crunching as boats dropped onto wooden groins by waiting their turn to come ashore.
Back on dry land I was surprised how few boats had actually finished and was leaving for home at 7.00 pm when the last boats came home. Overall I was pleased with my result being only 18 Mins behind Mike after 5 hours and 9th out of 68 boats .
Its Monday evening 3 days later and my legs still feel stiff so I must have put a bit of effort in somewhere.
This is a great race and well organized so anyone wanting to venture a little further afield for a race with a bit of Character and lots of challenges try the Sheppy Race.
Pete Barlow Blaze 680