SPORTSBOATS PRESIDENT’S BELL SERIES 

NOTICE TO COMPETITORS 

AMENDMENT TO CLASS RACING 

NOTICE OF RACE - NO. 1 

The Sportsboat President’s Bell Series Notice of Race is amended as follows: 

Item 1.  Schedule of Races 

Races 1 and 2 of the Sportsboat President’s Bell will be resailed on 25 April 2009.  Race 1 will start 

at 1430 and Race 2 will start as soon as possible after Race 1. 

Steve Bourne 

Sportsboats Class Secretary 

What a weekend! We could not have wished for any bettersailing conditions than what we got for the final four races of the sportsboatschampionship. Just as the boats got out to the start line a lovely easterlybreeze kicked in with 10-12 knots of wind. Before the last four races thechampionship title was open for anyone and all boats were very aware of that.The only boat that was missing was Merlin who due to an injury to the skippercould not participate (apparently the dock hit Merlin with 3 knots of speed asshe was docking after Saturday’s race).

The first race got started and it was a close battle upwind.The first mark was just underneath an island which made it tricky to predictthe wind shifts. But it turned out to be the left hand side of the course thatpaid off after the wind shifted 20 degrees to the left. Fly By Wire had it allfigured out and had a comfortable lead as they rounded the mark and pointed thebow towards the downwind mark. Due to the wind shift FBW could easily holdtheir position all the way to the finish and get first across the line justahead of Black Magic. Sky’s the limit won easily on corrected time.

Before the second race the RO changed the course to thewind. Shenanigans got a good start and were leading the race followed by Fly byWire and BM. The wind were shifting even more to the left and it was all aboutcovering the fleet and make sure no one could pass. Shenanigans and FBW werefar ahead and had a battle between themselves and FBW managed again to crossthe line as the first boat and also win on corrected. Shenanigans got secondand the Melges 20 third.

By the time the third race got going the wind was a bitsteadier. The start was slightly pin-end favored and it was really tight as allboats were fighting for their position. BM managed to get away clear and getaround the top mark first followed by FBW and R2B2. It was tight racing and alot of switching positions in the top of the fleet but BM crossed the line asthe first boat just ahead of FBW. Sky’s the limit did a great race and won byloads of time on corrected.

Last race, this was it. No one knew how the results were sofar but everyone was aware of that this would be a crucial race because thepoints between the top boats were so close. You could really tell in the laststart because it was a massive fight to line up and no one could afford to getan OCS. Gun went off and a recall was made from the RO. Shenanigans decided togo back but the flag was still up. Who was over???

FBW and BM were head to head and were sailing as it was themost important race of the year (which it was!). Just behind was Tornado andShenanigans. The battle in the front let Shenanigans catch up and before thelast rounding it was so close that anyone could win the race and no one knewhow it would affect the overall score. There was a gibing duel all the way downto the finishing line which was a shortened after two laps. Black Magic managedto cross the line first just one second ahead of Fly By Wire, who were onesecond ahead of Tornado on corrected time!!! Sky’s the limit did a great raceand finished comfortably ahead on corrected time.

Gideon, Mark and Mike on Sky’s the limit did an awesomeregatta and easily won the sportsboat championship 2009. Shenanigans got in assecond and Fly By Wire third.

On the Magic 25 side Shenanigans won the championship aheadof Black Magic and Fly By Wire.

Although the first weekend was not perfect we certainly hada great finish of the championship and thank you all for participating.

Congratulations Sky’s the limit and Shenanigans!!!