UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series 2021, Race 5

颱風盃帆船系列賽 第五場比賽

Xena outside Port Shelter (UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series 2021, Race 5)

Quest, 6th in IRC A (UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series 2021, Race 5)

For the predicted light conditions, and the needs of six competing divisions, Race Officer Inge Strompf -Jepsen took a while to brief her team before venturing out into Port Shelter to lay the marks for the islands courses in Race 5 of the UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series 2021 on Sunday 25 July 2021.

Hebe One dropped anchor northeast of Shelter Island and, in the sweltering heat and haze, the RO finalised her choices for courses, taking into account the wind readings submitted by the various support craft inside and outside Port Shelter. No windward mark was laid.

On the committee boat, a southeasterly of 4.5 knots was blowing. Fifty-two boats were counted, and the first warning signal sounded at 1050.

The IRC A division was given course 106 and, at 1100, eight sleek racing machines cleared the line (although Zannekin’s bowsprit came within millimetres of an OCS). In store for them was a starboard rounding of East Nine Pin, a port rounding of a Ma Tsai Pai Mark, Port Shelter Mark (s), then Steep Island (s), Trio (p) and a finish off Little Palm Beach. A distance covered of some 18 nautical miles.

Five minutes later, the wind had died to 2.5 knots, but the RO pressed on, saying, “They are still moving.” as 11 boats in IRC B crossed the line. H3O was too eager and had to return (and later retired—not a good day for the MC31). The RO had chosen course 107 for this no-less-competitive division and off they went to North Nine Pin leaving it to port, Trio Island to starboard, then Port Shelter Mark (s), Trio (p), Table (p) and a finish off Little Palm Beach. This was approximately 5nm shorter than course 106.

IRC C started third at 1110 and, by this time, the wind had swung a good 40 degrees to the south. Arcturus was over and returned while Dexter II led the 10-strong division away, also on the 13nm course 107.

The next start (1115) was for the three J/80s and 10 HKPN A boats. The wind was holding at around 3.5 knots and the boats headed off on course 107, Bits & Pieces leading the pack.

考慮到當天的天氣因素，以及六組不同競賽組別所需要的自然條 件，賽事主任 Inge Strompf 花了一些時間向賽事團隊介紹情況，然 後前往牛尾海，為 2021UK Sailmakers 颱風盃系列賽的第五場比賽 的環島賽做標記。

會船Hebe One 在牛尾海的東北面拋錨。當天天氣非常酷熱，天空 霧濛濛一片，賽事主任在分析牛尾海內、外支援船隻提交的風速數 據後，最終確定了賽道。 當日沒有設置迎風標。

根據會船上的工作人員記錄，當日東南風風速為4.5節；共52艘船 參與是次賽事；第一次警告訊號於10時50分發出。

IRC A組別被分到 106 號賽道。在11時00分，8 艘船隻跨越終點線（ 不過 Zannekin 偷步，賽事管理團隊予以警告）。他們先繞過東九 針，然後繞過孖仔排標記、牛尾海標記、青洲標記、大癩痢標記， 最後賽事於小棕林海灘結束，小棕林海灘標記與終點線距離約18 海里。

在11時05分，風速降至 2.5 節，但賽事主任的船隻仍在前進，並說： 「IRC B組別的船隊仍在前行。」話音剛落，11 艘船已越過終點線。 一開始時，H3O過於進取，後來不得不返回重新開始（最後退出賽 事，這一天對 MC31 來說不是個好日子）。 賽事主任為這個競爭激 烈的組別安排了 107 號賽道，初始船伍以左舷行駛前往北九針，以 右舷行駛至大癩痢，然後經過牛尾海標記、大癩痢、平面洲和小棕 林海灘。 這一航程的平均距離，比 106號賽道上進行的賽事短每 小時 5 海里。

第三組出發的船隻屬IRC C組，於11時10分啟航。此時，風向已偏南 整整40度。在107號賽道上，以平均速度達每小時13海里的 Dexter II，領先不少強勁選手；不過另一隊伍 Arcturus 已提早完成賽事並 返回起點。

下一組出發的組別乃 3 艘 J/80 和 10 艘 HKPN A級船，於11時15分啟 航。 當時風速維持在 3.5 節左右。船伍被安排於107 號賽道上進行 賽事，Bits & Pieces 保持領先優勢。

Minutes later, with the starting sequence for HKPN B underway, the wind died and an AP was raised at 1118. The nine cruisers appeared to be struggling in the light airs and the RO decided a delayed start would be a better option, although, 10 minutes later, the wind was barely 1 knot! But the delay gave time to relay the line as the wind had swung back to 150 degrees. At 1140, in 5.6 knots, the horn sounded for the second-to-last start. Ma Cherie 2e came about at the pin, got into a tussle with La Vida Loca and Gecko, and retired minutes later.

HKPN B had been given course 30, which took in Bluff Island (p), the Inner Port Shelter Mark (s), Ma Tsai Pai Mark (p) and a finish off Little Palm Beach – a distance of 11 nautical miles.

Last off at 1145 was the single entry in the Short-handed Class—disappointing, really, given the amount of lobbying these sailors have done for their own category. In future, it would be good to see more short-handers taking up the call.

Out in open water and around the islands, criss-crossing boats were enjoying increased winds and, at 12:58:59, Alpha Plus was the first boat home, followed by the other TP52, Phoenix, at 13:09:39. On handicap, the IRC A finishing order was Witchcraft 1st, Alpha Plus 2nd and Zannekin 3rd. Phoenix slumped to last place.

Then, in IRC B, misinterpretation of the HHYC’s recently-updated Standard Sailing Instructions led to a dramatic final outcome. course 107 requires a port rounding of Trio Island, yet eight boats chose to regard it as a passing mark. In an annex to the listed courses, the Instructions read, “All marks for all courses, except starting and finishing marks, shall be rounding marks.” Thus, Daydream, Kiasu!, Juggerknot, Rampage, Kingsman, Intrigue Plus, Outrageous and Bad Idea Bears on Full Tilt were blown out at a protest hearing on Wednesday, 28 July. That left protest instigator, Nightshift in 1st place on handicap and Tipsy Easy in 2nd.

幾分鐘後， HKPN B 級船的賽事開始，不過風勢開始明顯減弱，賽事 管理團隊於 11 時 18 分掛起 AP 旗 。因風速較弱，9 艘 HKPN B 級船似 乎有些吃力，於是賽事主任決定延遲開始。再過了10幾分鐘後，風 速竟降至1節！幸好，因賽事管理團隊決定延遲開始，給予他們時間 重設航線，此時風向已變至150度。在11時40分，風速已達5.6節，賽 事管理團隊已倒數兩次並發出啟航信號。比賽終於開始， Ma Cherie 2出場，不久與 La Vida Loca、Gecko 交戰，在幾分鐘後退出賽事。

HKPN B級船在 30 號賽道上開始賽事，其航線需經過甕缸洲標記、 內牛尾海標記、孖仔排標記，最後賽事於小棕林海灘結束，小棕林 海灘標記與終點線距離約11海里。

最後，於11 點 45 分進行小型帆船組別的賽事，只有一組參賽者。即 使已努力遊說選手們參加該組別的賽事，但最後參與人數不算理 想。未來希望看到更多的選手報名參加。

在開闊的水域裡，海面上船隻縱橫交錯，風力愈發增強。在12:58:59 內，Alpha Plus完成賽事，是第一艘返航的船；隨後是TP52，Phoenix， 在13:09:39內完成賽事。在IRC A組讓分系統排行榜上，Witchcraft排在 首位，Alpha Plus 排在第二，Zannekin則為第三。Phoenix跌至最後一名。

然而，在 IRC B 組中，部份選手未能準確理解更新後的標準航行 指南，導致賽果出現很大變化。根據賽事規則，107號賽道需要圍 繞大癩痢島的一個港口航行，但其中八艘船誤以為到達該港口 後，便已完成要求。在上述指南的附件中，寫明：「所有賽事的分 數，除開始和結束分數外，均以四捨五入方法計算。」因此，Full Tilt 上的 Daydream、Kiasu! 、Juggerknot、Rampage、Kingsman、 Intrigue Plus、Outrageous 和 Bad Idea Bears 在 7 月 28 日星期三的 抗議聆訊會上被淘汰。 最後，發起是次抗議的Nightshift 在讓分系 統排行榜上位居第一，Tipsy Easy 排名第二。

Ma Cherie 2e in trouble on the line (UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series 2021, Race 5)

Things were better in IRC C, with Dexter II putting in a consistent performance to claim both line and handicap honours. Goddess chalked up a 2nd and Whiskey Jack a 3rd. Talkinghead retired. Likewise, in the J/80 division where Footloose took line and handicap honours with Jelik 7 in 2nd and Baring Asia 1 in 3rd. There were only three boats competing in this category.

Four boats in HKPN A suffered a similar DSQ for not rounding Trio Island. Bad luck Bits & Pieces, Scintilla, Minnie the Moocher and AmaZe. This left the trimaran, Bluefin, to claim victory on handicap. Protest instigator, Temujin, filled the 2nd slot and Ichiban 3rd. Ricochet and Baring Asia 2 retired.

Foxzhead claimed line and handicap honours in the HKPN B division, followed by Baby Beluga and La Vida Loca. Scrumpy and La Folia retired. In the Short-handed Class, Miss LeVa finished at 13:51:30 to record an elapsed time of two hours, six minutes and 30 seconds.

IRC C 組的賽況比 B 組好一 些，Dexter II 表現穩定，獲得 了衝線榮譽和讓分系統排行 榜首名榮譽。 Goddess 獲得 第二名， Whiskey Jack 獲得 第三名。Talkinghead退出賽 事。 在 J/80 組別，Footloose 獲得衝線和讓分系統首名榮 譽， Jelik 7 排名第二，Baring Asia 1 排名第三。該組別只有 三艘船參加。

HKPN A組的四艘船 Bits & Pieces 、 Scintilla 、 Minnie the Moocher 和 AmaZe 因未繞過 大癩痢島而被取消成績。這使 得三體船Bluefin在讓分系統上 躋身第一位；發起是次抗議的 Temujin排在第二位；Ichiban 排在第三位；Ricochet和 Baring Asia 2 退出比賽。

Foxzhead 獲得 HKPN B 組的衝 線和讓分系統首名榮譽，其後 按排名依次是 Baby Beluga 、 La Vida Loca。 Scrumpy 和 La Folia 退出比賽。 在小型帆船組 別，Miss LeVa在 13:51:30內完成 賽事 ，賽事全程共花費 2 小時 6 分 30 秒。