TAIL END OF HURRICANE KATIA, 9 – 11 September 2011   – report by Naomi Gillingham

SKIP.MALCOLM  , CREW; GRAHAM C, CHRIS B., ANDY M., LIZ S., NAOMI 

BOAT; 38’ ELAN, 'LIVER-BIRD  ', LIBERTY YTS, QAB, Plymouth.

FORECAST; RAIN/FOG/SW GALES W GUSTS UP TO 45MPH.

BONUS; INTERNATIONAL 'AMERICA'S CUP' 45C CATS RACING IN PLYMOUTH SOUND!

FRI. 2HRS BOAT TESTING AROUND THE SOUND. WIND 5-6-GUSTS 7. SEA MOD. VIS POOR.

2 REEFS IN MAIN .GOOD BOAT-HANDLING. 1ST GLIMPSE OF CATS LIMBERING-UP,-GREAT TO WATCH. BARBICAN FOR PINTS IN DOLPHIN & EXCELLENT FISH/CHIPS DINNER. MORE TIPPLES ON BOARD & ROCKING ALL NIGHT.

SAT. DECIDED TO TRY FOR FOWEY RATHER THAN SALCOMBE OWING TO STRONG SW WINDS & LOCAL ADVICE. SAILED 2HRS S. STILL NO VISIBILITY OF EDDYSTONE. SEA LUMPY. 1 CREW ILL SO DECIDED TO TURN BACK TO CALMER WATERS & WATCH CATS RACING.

LUNCH AT ANCHOR IN CAWSANDS THEN MOVED TO VIEWING POSN. BETWEEN QAB & RACE ZONE. ANCHORED IN 5M.,(RISING TIDE..) ANCHOR TIGHTENED & SEEMED TO SNAG TIGHT VERTICALLY, BLOWING FUSE & LOCKING SOLID WITH NO POSSIBLITY OF MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION.. BOWS GETTING TUGGED UNDER BY CHOPPY WAVES & STILL 3 HRS RISE TO GO!

2 PHONE CALLS TO HELP SERVICES PROVED FRUITLESS (TOO BUSY W RACERS).. ANXIETY MOUNTING.. BOAT TOSSING TRYING TO SHAKE OFF HARNESS...BOYS SCRATCHED HEADS!

1 HR OF ANX. LATER ,1 SUCH BUCK SEEMED TO UNLEASH THE HOOK & CHAIN SUDDENLY SLACKENED.. WOW THANKYOU.. GOD ON OUR SIDE!

WATCHED RACE HAPPILY THEREAFTER W CATS WHIZZING PAST, 1 HULL FLYING & 6 HELMETED CREW ON EACH SCURRYING ABOUT LIKE ANTS, WINCHES, ROPES, WINGS & JENNIKAS ALL IN TOP ACTION.. FABULOUS SIGHT.!

ATE IN HIMALAYAN JOINT BEHIND DOPLHIN. WELCOME GRUB/RECOMMENDABLE.

SUN.; BONUS..WOKE TO SUNSHINE & STILL STRONG SSW GUSTS UP TO 40MPH, BUT BETTER THAN EXPECTED FROM FORECAST. SEAS LUMPY SO STAYED INSIDE BREAKWATER, BUT HAD SOME GOOD SUNNY WINDY PERFECT SAILING WEATHER.

SAW CATS COMING OUT OF MILLBAY TO START LIMBERING UP AS WE LOOKED IN TO TAMAR. BACK TO PONTOON FOR LUNCH AT 1. UNBEKNOWN TO US THE RACE SCHEDULE HAD BEEN BROUGHT FWD BY 2HRS DUE TO WEATHER CONDNS SO WE WERE INDOORS EATING WHEN MOST OF THE ACTION WAS TAKING PLACE. GREAT SHAME AS SUNDAY'S ACTION WAS TRULY SPECTACULAR..INCL. PITCH-POLES, 3 CAPSIZES & SOME V.SPEEDY TIME TRIALS.

EMIRATES NZ & ORACLE USA WERE NECK & NECK. FRANCE, SPAIN, KOREA ALL TURNED OVER, SWEEDEN, CHINA, DNF/WITHDREW.

A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE WEEKEND’S SAILING DESPITE HAIRY FORECAST.. GOOD COMPANY, GOOD BOAT, GOOD SKIP. THANKYOU ALL.