Racing at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club

April 24th 2008 - First Points Series - Race 4

The wind was a good force four from the South to South west with mostly cloud cover but just a hint of occasional sun. As the race team left the club, arrangements were made for a club finish if possible. The wind was reported to be swinging between 200 and 210 degrees, more or less half way between the fixed course choices for South or South west wind. The reasonable length courses gave a choice of a windward leeward with lots of short legs or one with long legs. The latter was chosen to round a laid Central Mark so sending the faster boats into the bay with the less swift craft circulating the Carrick Roads.  

In the event, assured of no shipping movements, 14 boats started the longer course and 7 boats the shorter course beating into 16 to 18 knots of a warmer wind than of late. Some consternation was caused to the OOD as the mark laying rib returned to the committee boat having lost radio communication to announce that they could not locate the position for Central Mark due to malfunction of their GPS. With just one minute to the first start, the rib was dispatched with instructions to drop the Central mark dead to windward of Black Rock about a mile into the bay.  

The boats departed into the slightly gloomy distance with one rib standing by Central Mark a mile or so out, and one by Black Rock to cover the Roads. The race team on the committee boat relaxed slightly, broke out some refreshment and confirmed with the club team that the race would finish with them on the club line.   At first it looked as if the first home would be the Sunbeam of Jeff Martin but in the event Double Jeopardy, aided by some considerable speed down wind with its large spinnaker, was honoured with the first gun echoing round the moorings.

The fleet finished with guns and horns sounding depending on the boats finishing order. Even the sun began to shine briefly on the assembly watching from the club lawn. The bar then echoed to the discussions of the racers on how the race was won or lost. Everybody felt somewhat better for the good thrash in their boats after a week at work.  

From Jack Penty - OOD

Page last updated April 27, 2008