First COGS 2008

Falmouth to Fowey

Sponsored by SHARP’S BREWERY

On Friday evening, the boats from Fowey and Plymouth began to gather in Falmouth in order to compete in the first of the 2008 Cornwall Offshore Group Series race from Falmouth to Fowey to take place on Saturday 3rd May. There was some consternation when the supper ran out due to the influx of the COGS racers adding to the usual Friday night racing hordes in the Royal Cornwall. The problem was soon solved by Sam’s crew with large plates of ham and eggs for the late comers.

Race day dawned with a watery sun and a 15-knot southerly wind. As the boats gathered for the start at Black Rock, the Race Officer and his team signalled the course was to be simply from the start to Fowey via the Central special purpose mark in St Austell bay to starboard then to the finish in Fowey at the Royal Fowey line.

At the start, the 15 boats partaking in the two classes lined up with the boats at the Black Rock end making a cheeky port tacker having the best start . Starboard boats could not approach and clear the Black Rock rocks close enough to push them out. After a short port tack, the fleet threw about to clear St Anthony Head and found they could lay Dodman, providing they kept hard on the wind. So a long slog on starboard tack in a quite bumpy sea began, and ended for most with a few of the last PY boats having to put in a short tack later on to clear the Dodman which was only a little more bumpy in the race.

A fine reach to Central Mark followed when the odd asymmetric was tried unsuccessfully. A short beat followed to Cannis rock. The reach into Fowey harbour became complicated, when the wind did some very funny things turning from a reach to a run to a beat in any random order. Some finishers were further stressed by the starts of great fleets of the Fowey Troys running out of the harbour with all sail spread.

A pontoon in Pont Pill was reserved for the fleet where the events of the day could be first ruminated on then again at the bar at the Royal Fowey. The prizes were distributed by the Royal Cornwall representative Jo Leech who was standing in for hubby who had been unexpectedly called away to far away places by his employers.

Thought.

Definition of a Bar.

A/          A long bank of sand or mud found in harbour entrances usually surrounded by yachtsmen speaking very loudly.

B/          A plank of wood, usually of polished mahogany, and surrounded by yachtsmen drinking and speaking very loudly.

Jack Penty

Page last updated May 10, 2008