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Congrats to Kevin Dutch from Seasalter for winning our 48th IOSSC Island Race in his Sprint.
There's only 2 of us at IOSSC with Sprints...it's a bit of a Dart 18 stronghold, so nice one Kevin to come here and win on handicap out of 120 competitors.
I'm sorry to say though that I couldn't uphold the honour of the Sprints too, as I had to retire ealy after being cut up by a Wayfarer, who now has a rather large hole in his starboard bow, with 6" of my port bow stuck in it!
For several years I sailed from Catamarn YC, nearly always the sole Sprint 15, with Dart 18s being the majority element of the competition.
I decided to sail Sport Mode, for which the handicap is very close to 10% "slower" than a Dart 18 (ie if you finish in less than their time + 10% - which you work out in your head on the water - you beat them)! The exact figure is 10.526%. But more to the point is that if you sail well you should be able to beat some of the slower Dart 18s over the water from time to time.......
There seemed to be advantages in the extra power of Sport mode. Beating through the chop - nasty and steep if wind against tide - seemed to show a significant gain compared to standard mode. And when sailing against what can be quite a fast tide it also seemed to pay.
I know quite a few members of IOSSC, some of whom may well be ex-CatClub sailors. My regards to James Brown, Scott, Tim et al.
George Stephen
PS1 If Dan Norman ever sails in IOSSC races, don't expect ever to beat him over the water, but he's not unbeatable on handicap v a well sailed Sprint 15........
PS2 I'd been toying with the idea of sailing in the Island Race this year, but I wasn't well. Maybe next year.... But I'm a lot older than when I got my best result - 13th.
George,
hope you can make it next year. I indeed sailed my 15 well...until I sailed her straight into another boat just off the CYC! (me on Starboard I hasten to add)
Steve Sawford...I'd be ashamed to show you the boat that everyone has been drooling over for a year now...there's about 6" of port bow missing. I say 'missing', it was last seen sticking out of the side of the Wayfarer as it went down the road on it's trailer.
