With a forecast of a good sailing breeze it should have been a good opportunity to get an autumnal sail in, but the forecast also included a belt of rain moving through Falmouth at 3pm just as the race would commence. This put some less hardy skippers off the idea and stayed on their moorings. As it transpired the rain held off and eight boats assembled for a start off the Cauldy buoy in the Inner Harbour. A reaching start saw Meloris, Sam Heard make a galloping start and take the lead out of the Inner Harbour down wind to the North Bank buoy, before turning to beat due south into the wind and tide to Castle buoy, from there a broad reach to the gate at the harbour mouth before doing second round.
By the second round the wind had increased and as the fleet approached the Castle Buoy the swell had also risen and these powerful boats were dipping their bowsprits and taking the occasional wave, making an exciting sail before turning the buoy to run back to the gate and finish off the Flushing Club line. On the way back Winnie being sailed by Matyn Paige broke the retaining bungy cord holding the leeward runner and it snagged on the mast spreader, it took two complete turns to clear the problem putting them well back at the finish. It was Meloris still in front in B class just holding Off Steve Miles in Florence.In C class Peter Caldwell in Iris Elizabeth was on top form and held off Juanita and Truth over the water.
Janette in the race office, efficient as ever, handed the elapsed times to acting Race Officer John Peters,ably assisted by Sam Harding and Adam Bird. They then applied the handicaps to get the final placings. The results were then kept under wraps until the prize giving at the Chainlocker Inn.
At the Pub the crews assembled plus quite a few of the shoreside sailors. Josh and James the Pub managers were on hand to present the Cups and supplied beers and plentiful superb hot food. The hot food went down a treat with Norman Bowers on the Rebecca who managed to catch a big wave near the Castle buoy and was rather damp!
The B class Cup went to the first boat on corrected time which was Florence, who also being the first wooden boat, won the prestigious bronze ‘Woody’s Winch’. The winch is presented each year in memory of Robert Wodehose who sailed for years on the Victory with the infamous crew including Toby West and Boyo Carne.
The C class cup was won by Jon Brunee on the classic ‘Juanita’ built in Falmouth by Thomas Jackett in 1896 and now sailed by a brilliant young crew in the photo,who have really got the boat up to speed.
Corrected Results
B class
1. Florence,Steve Miles.
2. Meloris, Sam Heard.
3. Rebecca, Norman Bowers and Chris D’Glanville.
4. Endeavour, Ollie Graffy.
5. Winnie, Arthur Williams.
C class
1. Juanita, Jon Brunee.
2. Iris Elizabeth, Peter Caldwelll.
3. Truth, Ross Collett.