RCYC

EXCELLENT RACING:

On nearly the longest day of the year with a cracking breeze and sunshine, competitors arriving at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Committee Boat for the start of racing anticipated rather longer courses than were set, writes David Cunliffe. Although short, some good racing ensued. In the IRC Class A yachts, Con Mulcahy's Shenanigan had the best start but it was Damien Bloor's larger Daring which powered up the first beat. Martin Eddy's Bluenose stood on longer on starboard tack and gained when tacking on to port to the first Mark and this set the pattern for subsequent Classes. However, the Mark had been placed where the wind was fickle and later starters closed up. Daring was never headed on the water and crossed the finish line first but on handicap, John Murrell's Macavity did enough to beat Daring for first and take over the lead in the Points Series from J & V Cunliffe's Supersonic going into the last Series race next week. John Beavis's Tresillian V had a vey good race but didn't quite beat Daring on handicap. In the Sportsboats, Proper Job of Simone Kennett led at the first Mark but was beaten on handicap at the finish by Sword of M Brooks. The closest race was in the J24 fleet with several place changes on the beat and the run out into the Bay to Zone Mark. Boats in this fleet were virtually all together at the mark but on the ensuing beat Phil Samuel's Jethro had moved slightly ahead with Ben Peters Just Wind and Walter Amos's Soma II covering each other close behind. These positions remained on the leg to the finish. One of the yachts which has raced the longest in the Port, namely Jemalda of JA Muirhead had an excellent start in Class E yachts and held on to this position but eventually finished second on handicap, splitting the usual front running GK24s Sidewinder and Popincoota. In the St Mawes ODs, Dave Ryeng in Rainbow was another boat to find the left hand side of the first beat paid handsomely and finished well ahead of Jeremy and Rachel Dunn in Kelpie. The same thing took place in the Multihulls fleet where David Healey's Flying Circus gained an enormous lead to win and again in the Sunbeams where Jeff Martin in Saucy Sally had a good lead to finish first.

Final Points positions in all Classes for the second series will be resolved in the last race of the Series next week.

Race Results: IRC Class A: 1, Macavity (J Murrell); 2. Daring (D Bloor); 3, Tresillian V (J Beavis). J24 Class: 1 Jethro (P Samuel) 2. Just Wind (B Peters); 3, Soma II (W.Amos). St Mawes OD: 1. Rainbow (D Ryeng; 2 Kelpie (J & R Dunn). PY Class E 1 Sidewinder (K Hansen); 2 Jemalda (JA Muirhead); 3, Popincoota (Jane Goddard). Sunbeams: 1, Saucy Sally (J Martin); 2. Wendy (J Pickup). Multihulls: 1, Flying Circus (D.Healy); 2. Alderney Race (C Gladwell). Sportsboats: 1. Sword (M.Brooks); 2 Proper Job (S Kennett)

Helford River SC

SUSANNA MAY CUP:

The sun shone on sailors at Helford River Sailing Club as 16 dinghies took part in the annual Susanna May Memorial Cup. With winds averaging 10 – 14 knots from the North West the popular event saw the competitors starting from the middle of the Helford River, beating against the wind up to Trebah Beach before heading back to Gew in the gusty and challenging conditions.On board the committee boat were members of Susanna May's family and friends, including her husband Fido who started the race for Race Officer Sarah Mason. After a short delay due to the gusty and shifting winds, the fleet set off towards the Turning mark off Trebah beach. Anton Chamberlain was first around the windward mark followed by Phil Samuel and Stuart Sawyer sailing with daughter Cara. The Lasers took advantage of the long downwind run to Gew ready for the beat back into the wind to Trebah. Tony Statham in the Laser sailed a particularly good beat to get into the lead, followed by Anton Chamberlain in the Comet and Roger Macdonald always challenging in the other Laser, but it was Adam Mason sailing a Solo, that made the most of the conditions and despite being in a slower boat kept with the top four that kept clear of the fleet throughout the race. Fighting for fifth place on the water were Stuart and Cara Sawyer sailing a National 12, Andy Biggs, Phil and Dave Philpott. Dinghy sailing at Helford River Sailing Club is getting ever more popular with all types of dinghies and sailors from seven to 75 taking part. Competition throughout the fleet was tight with places changing all the time. The proof of this must be the almost dead heat between Andy Biggs in his Laser and Dave Philpott in his Solo finishing inly one second apart after an hour's sailing. Competitors returned to the club to the traditional sailing tea provided by the May family with prizes being presented by Fee Chick, a long family friend. Jane Benney, Commodore of HRSC, said: "The race and the tea has become a feature of the sailing calendar, especially as the club had started out as a dinghy sailing club, with the May family as founder members." In true Helford style, prizes were awarded not only to the overall winners, but also to acknowledge and encourage the other sailors taking part.

Result: 1 Adam Mason; 2 Tony Statham. 3 Roger Macdonald. 1 Double hander - Stuart and Cara Sawyer. 1 Ladies Helm - Becky Kestin. 1 Junior - Cara Sawyer.

Mylor YC

LONGEST DAY RACE:

Mylor Yacht Club's Skinner's Brewery Pursuit Series got under way on Sunday with glorious sailing weather, moderate breeze, sunshine and a pleasant temperature, writes John Cruise. What better way to celebrate the longest day? Race officer Clive Hoyle set the trapezoidal course from the north-west group that gave all points of sailing. There were 11 boats taking part with Fay Nights getting away first, and fastest in the fleet, Gazelle, starting 26 minutes later. By the end of the first lap the starting positions were mostly maintained but then the pecking order shifted. Fay Nights was overtaken by Little Egret and by the start of the third lap Pallisander had taken the lead. Mary Boon had passed Suce and Synergy and after a long period looking at Pallisander's transom eventually crossed ahead on port tack to take the lead. Nibbler had started with Dhokos, just a couple of minutes before Gazelle, but by this time was making progress through the fleet as was Khamsin. Starting the fourth round Mary Boon still held the lead but Khamsin and Nibbler were now chasing hard. With the target race duration approaching, the race officer joined the RIB to monitor the fleet and judged that the finish should be at Penarrow mark. The three leaders were covering in earnest on that final spinnaker leg and for Mary Boon it just paid off, winning by 17 seconds ahead of Khamsin with Nibbler a similar distance behind in third. However, the weekend had started with an unusual alternative to regular racing on Friday evening. The break in the schedule was due to tide restrictions and the cunning plan was to run a Speed Trial event between six and 7.30 pm. The idea was to record the best speed over the ground as shown by GPS and report to sailing secretary Chris Davis back at the club who would then apply the normal handicap factor. The wind strength was nearly enough to produce maximum speeds and most recorded well over seven knots. With the reaching spinnaker pulling well, Mary Boon headed the actual speed list with 7.8 knots but that was only good enough for third place after correction. Narnia was second and Brian Dobson on Synergy took the champagne prize.

Results: Pursuit 1: 1, Mary Boon (J. Cruise); 2, Khamsin (A. Street); 3, Nibbler (O. Taylor); 4, Pallisander (L. Eathorne); 5, Gazelle (A & S Nancarrow); 6, Dhokos (H. Stannard); 7, Suce (S. Rosevear); 8, Synergy (B. Dobson); 9, Little Egret (J. Bramley).

Flushing SC

SUPERB EVENING'S RACING:

One of the best evenings yet saw Peter Sharp the Race Officer start the Flushing Sailing Club racing with A class into the Bay and across to Falmouth Beach Hotel mark then Rosemullion, writes Kaye Price. The two multihulls were on the same course but Martin Eddy in Bluenose from A class managed to finish between them. E class were competing for the Stewards Cup so this went to Hooligan (R Edward)s who we haven`t seen much of this year so a good start to the new series. The class were up and down the Carrick Roads with `Minx` arriving at the second mark FBC with a rip in his spinnaker, how this happenned is a mystery but rumour has it that Josh the youngest member of the crew knew something about it and it did look very wet. `Q` class are going from strength to strength, age and experience paying off as the club`s President R Little on Puffin left the younger less knowledgeable boats behind. In the J 24s there was also good use of local understanding when Jethro decided to sail up the West coast getting a couple of lifts from the Southerly wind, the fleet of three regretted that there were not more out as they sailed from Pendennis to Penarrow and back to Black Rock just the sort of course that suites them. U class was also a special race for the Royal Wedding Silver Salver and `Mary Boon (J Cruise) managed to claim this even though the course from Rustler Yachts mark into the docks was a beat then the kites went up but it was very difficult to hold these up the harbour some boats succeeded while others had problems. G class was looking good with seven boats on a line that proved difficult to hold as the anchor on the committee boat dragged a little, however, Polly (B Lawrence) managed to maintain her excellent season so far, beating Emily Alice, sailed by his son R Lawrence by four seconds over the line, N Glanville`s Mona certainly looks beautiful on the water as she competes for the first year. In B` class Mildred with D Cockwell at the helm thundered up to the start but on the way must have lost his way as he failed to finish, the honours going to Mabel (P Collett). On the previous Monday evening the club had been very pleased to host the Sunbeam fleet who were racing all weekend with visitors from the Itchen, CH & M Choak provided the pasty supper and an enoyable evening was had by all.

Results: J24: 1, Jethro (P Samuel); 2, Soma11 (W Amos); 3, Jitterbug (J Hicks/R Wootton). F: 1 Sword (M Brooks). U: 1. Mary Boon (J Cruise); 2, Red Gauntlet (W Hunt). Q: 1, Puffin (R Little); 2, Sweet Friday (L Cheshire); 3, Zephrus of Mylor (P Jenkins). G: 1, Polly (B Lawrence); 2, Emily Alice (R Lawrence); 3 Ruby (A Martin). E: 1, Hooligan Edwards; 2, Moonlighter (P Collins); 3. Hawk (C Bell). A: 1, Macavity (J Murrell); 2, Per Elisa (R Tregear); 3, Bluenose (M Eddy). B: 1 Mabel P Collett; 2, Grace (C Jeffery); 3 Winnie (A Williams). M: 1, Flying Circus (D Healey); 2, (Alderney Race) C Gladwell.

L'Aber Wrac'h

50th ANNIVERSARY RACE:

Helford River Sailing Club holds its 50th Annual Race across the Channel to L'Aber Wrac'h in Northern Brittany tomorrow, writes Sam Hewett. The 93-mile race started in1959 and has, weather permitting, run every year since then drawing competitors from both sides of the Channel. Sue and Tony Myers are the couple who had the initial idea that would become the race that so many have enjoyed over the last 50 years. During a cruise to Brittany they thought that it would be good to hold a race over there and to L'Aber Wrac'h in particular. The fact that Ile Vierge, Europe's tallest lighthouse is just off the entrance to the river was probably a very larger factor in the choice of destination. Friendships continued between the two rivers after the war and following a visit to the French port in 1957 by Sue and Tony Myers it was decided to hold a race over there. It was also decided that as there would be small boats entering, some of whom had perhaps not crossed the channel before, the pursuit system of handicapping would be used. This system had been used for a while in the US, but at that time it was a new concept in this country. The pursuit race meant that the smaller and potentially more vulnerable boats would start first and take comfort from the thought of the larger boats coming up behind who may be able to help in an emergency. The first race was scheduled for 1958, but a gale blew at the appointed time and so the first race actually took place in 1959. There were 11 starters; 10 English and one French. By 1963 the turnout had increased to 33 starters; 20 English and 13 French. The race has been put on every year since. Some years have been blown out by gales, and the Torrey Canyon and Amoco Cadiz disasters both had their effect. Numbers have fluctuated, but reached a peak of more than 100 in the late 1980s. What makes this race particularly special though are the friendships of longstanding that have been forged by the race. A lot of the early competitors are sadly no longer with us, but they are held in great respect on both sides of the channel. This year it is the 50th race. Helford River Sailing Club is very proud to have run an international race for so long. A full programme of events and entertainment is planned from the Wednesday lunchtime, to include fireworks and a fly past by RNAS Culdrose on Thursday evening. The club is very pleased to have the support of Gill Clothing, Ancasta Boat Sales, Robin Curnow (outboard motor specialist), Yamaha (UK) and Mark Dowland Marine. As a mark of the friendship, early on in the history of the race the Helford contingent started the interestingly named "Champagne Recovery Party" which in fact was to allow the French visitors a chance to relax and "recover" from their trip over to the Helford before setting off back to France the following day. The tradition continues this year with club members welcoming the French competitors. On the French side, we are assured of a very warm welcome. On the Saturday night there will be music in the Yacht Club des Abers. The prize giving will take place on Sunday lunchtime and this will be followed by a buffet.