M.P.S.C. - Offshore Section

2012

MPSC Yachting Championships 7th - 9th October 2012

For the first time in its history the Annual MPSC Yacht Championships were sailed under the banner of PSUK, having just been granted this coveted status. The event itself commenced on Sunday, 7th October, 2012 with racing on Monday 8th and Tuesday, 9th October, 2012. This year there was a change of format with the event moving away from its normal midweek slot to a start day on the Sunday, allowing those who wished to, the opportunity to practice over the weekend.

Monday, 8th October, 2012 saw the competitors, 14 entries, making their way from Port Solent to the Race area starting in the vicinity of Browndown. The Racing was due to start at 9am but the Race Officer postponed for an hour allowing visibility to improve (and some of the sleepier competitors to get to the starting area).

Race 1.
The first race was effectively a shake-down race lasting for 1 hour 15 minutes giving competitors a chance to test their boats and get the Spinnakers up. A triangular course was set as follows;

Start. CB and Browndown - 5E - Port.
Mark 1: Good Ackers - 44 - Port.
Mark 2: North Ryde Middle - 4Y - Port.
Mark 3: Mackley construction - 43 Starboard and finish

With 15 -20 knots of wind Jason Cranmer and his crew lead the fleet up the beat with tide, round the first mark followed closely by Henry Scutt and Mason King with Stuart Jenkins chasing them in fourth. The boats then popped their Spinnakers and went onto a dead down wind run. The boats taking the starboard side of the course in shore and out of some of the flooding tide made ground on those to seaward who were in more wind but fighting the tide.

It was close between the first four boats with the honours going to Jason Cranmers crew followed by Henry Skutt (2nd), Stuart Jenkins (3rd) and Mason King (4th).

Race 2
Rain and poor visibility held up the start of the Race 2 with the Race Officer unwilling to start proceedings unless he could see both sides of the Solent. That, coupled with a shifting wind, meant Race 2 didn’t get underway until 12:05pm. The course set was;

Start CB and Mackey construction
Mark 1: North East Ryde Middle - 46 - Port
Mark 2: North Ryde Middle - 4Y - Port
Mark 3: Norris - 4T - Port
Mark 4: Gate
Mark 5: North East Ryde Middle - 46 - Port
Mark 6: Sunsail Racing - 4U - Port
Mark 7: South Ryde Middle - 4Z - Port
Finish: CB and Mackey Construction.

Some of the competitors were very keen to start which resulted in many of them being over the line at the start. The Race Officer sounded the general recall and a restart ensued with flag Z flying (20% penalty.)

The racing was again close. Stuart Jenkins and his crew did well to retain their damage deposit when the Cleveland Police boat helmed by Steve Brisley performed a very quick tack which resulted in a port and starboard incident. By a matter of centimetres the damage deposit was saved with both boats crash tacking away from each other with Jenkins boat taking the resulting 720º penalty turns.

Again it was close between the first four boats with the honours going to Mason King followed by Jason Cranmer (2nd), Ian Bedford (3rd) and Stuart Jenkins (4th).

Further racing that day was postponed due to foggy conditions / rain and the fleet headed into East Cowes for an evening of entertainment.

Race 3
Tuesday, 9th October saw the fleet starting in light drizzle and 15 knots of wind; all in all, thoroughly unpleasant conditions for Yacht Racing.

Some weary heads arrived for the 9am start with the course set as follows;

Start: Committee Boat and Peters and May - 4X.
Mark 1: North East Ryde Middle - 46 - Port
Mark 2: South Ryde Middle - 4Z - Starboard
Mark 3: Peters and May - 4X - Port
Mark 4: Mackey Construction - 43 - Port
Finish: Peters and May 4X - CB

This time there was a new leader in the pack with Roger Glass in fine form leading the fleet round hounded by Jason Cranmer, Mason King and Stuart Jenkins. The leading boats all finished within a minute of each other, Roger Glass (1st), Jason Cranmer (2nd) then Stuart Jenkins in third place beating Mason King by 2 seconds!!!

Race 4
Again more fog and more rain hampered the Race officer in getting the fleet away. Finally the fog did lift long enough for the Race Officer to set a course;

Start: CB - Peters and May - 4X
Mark 1: North East Ryde Middle - 46 Port
Mark 2: South Ryde Middle - 4Z - Port
Mark 3: Mackey Construction - 43 - Port
Mark 4: Browndown - 5C - Starboard
Mark 5: Darling associates - 5E - Starboard
Finish: CB - Royal Navy -5G

Stuart Jenkins and his crew got off to a flying start and lead the fleet throughout the whole course with no one getting close to touching them. The driving rain and now wind chilled temperatures made the going tough for all the crews. Stuart Jenkins crew took first place followed by Henry Skutt (2nd) Ian Bedford (3rd) and Jason Cranmer 4th.

Due to the worsening conditions the Race Officer was unable to set a course for the 5th and final race of the series and all crews headed for home.

The top 5 final results after one discard were;

1st - Jason Cranmer - 5 points.
2nd - Stuart Jenkins - 7 points.
3rd - Henry Skutt - 9 points.
4th - Mason King - 10 points.
5th - Ian Bedford - 10 points.

A Prize giving took place at Port Solent where Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison was in attendance to make the presentations.

Jason Cramer and Stuart Jenkins crew as first and second Metropolitan Police boats go through with financial support from the MPAA to compete in the PSUK National Championships in May, 2013.

Mason King, as third place Metropolitan Police boat also wins financial assistance from the MPSC to compete in the PSUK National Championships in May 2013.

N.M.

The Metropolitan Police Offshore Racing Championships
Contact/Organiser 2012:
Nick Mason
Mobile - 07799 410805