RSA Blue Shoal Trophy – Race Report
Inner Crouch Buoy ➜ Paglesham • Monday 16 June 2025
Conditions
- Wind: Predominantly westerly, very shifty, building from 6 kn to gusts of 18 kn (forecast 15 kn).
- Tide: Last of the ebb at the 10:00 start, flooding on the return leg.
- Course: Start off Paglesham ➜ Inner Crouch buoy ➜ finish back in the Roach.
Line-Up (6 starters)
| Sail No. | Boat | Helm & Crew | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margo | Ermal Krutani | First RSA outing | |
| Chooch II | John & Michaela Greenwood | First RSA outing | |
| Vida Loca | John Walton & Maggie Walton | — | |
| Momo 3 | Barry — (single-handed) | — | |
| Eole | Peter Yerbury (single-handed) | — | |
| Imothes | John Langrick & Dave Pierce | — |
(Nigel Bishop crewed aboard Chooch II.)
The Race
A gentle 6-kn breeze sent the fleet away at 10:00, Imothes immediately hoisting a goose-winged headsail to wring every last fraction of knot from the dying ebb.
Margo’s late departure—Ermal had to sail round from Wallasea—left her chasing hard from the back.
At Branklet Spit Imothes still held the outright lead, while Eole and Momo 3 traded second place as the wind oscillated through 20° shifts.
The turn at the Inner Crouch buoy coincided with a sharp build in pressure, peaking at 18 kn. Imothes rounded cleanly, but chose a long starboard tack across to the Crouch’s north shore before hardening up for Paglesham. Eole called it perfectly with a shorter hitch, compressing the gap as the breeze funnelled into the Roach.
Back in home waters the extra hands aboard Imothes paid dividends: quick fire short tacks up the tightening channel kept her just out of reach of the two single-handers behind.
Results on corrected time:
Momo 3 has 3rd place, Imothes 2nd, and Eole wins the Blue Shoal trophy!
The full results spreadsheet (Excel) includes points in series and handicaps for the next race.
Highlights & Takeaways
- Tide tactics win races: Imothes’ decision to goose-wing down-tide and then tack early into clear water proved decisive.
- Short-handed heroes: Both Eole and Momo 3 showed that slick boat-handling can keep a single-hander in touch even in the gusts.
- Welcome to the newcomers: Great to see Margo and Chooch II contesting their first RSA event—looking forward to seeing them higher up the sheet as the season progresses.
Congratulations to all skippers and crews. See you on the line for the next series race!
Written By Barry Lewis
Edited by Robert Ayre
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