Fowey started with a passage in company from Falmouth to Fowey starting at Black Rock on Monday 18th. August in a light to moderate north westerly wind. Eight boats were setting off, unfortunately, the ninth entry,Lottie broke her mast in the previous Saturday, the last day of Falmouth Week and was unable to make the event. Nigel Sharp the POFSA Race Officer was on hand to see the fleet off. Fowey sent a motor cruiser to accompany them on passage to Fowey.
Fowey is one of the only occasions when Falmouth Working Boats fly spinnakers, using any spinnaker that would fit, they tend to be of all shapes and sizes. Some boats opted to go out to sea hoping to pick up a better breeze and help from the tide, however a dark cloud with increased wind pressure rolled down the coast pushing the inshore boats faster.
After three and three quarter hours it was Grace who trickled through the flukey Fowey estuary winds to arrive first. Helen Mary was only three minutes behind with the smallest B Class boat, Stella six minutes behind tussling with Florence ten seconds apart.
The trophy for first boat into Fowey is the George Vinnicombe Cup presented by his son Tim Vinnicombe which this year goes to Grace. The prize giving was held in The Fowey Gallants Sailing Club.
Paula who runs the Gallants sailing Club is the rock behind the Working Boats attendance in Fowey. Paula organises the Sponsors for each boat who pay for the pontoon berths and the Harbour Masters tows on and off the pontoon. Each evening a designated social venue is organised and a guard boat for the passages to and fro to Falmouth. This year the main shorebased liaison was John Andrew whose boat Demelza was not afloat, with back up from Martin Bibmead on Stella who unfortunately didn’t get on the water during the mid week.
The welcome and support that Fowey gives is superb.What better service could you ask for!
The fastest passage on handicap this year went to Stella, a great achievement for the shortest waterline Boat in B Class. This trophy will be presented at the Annual Dinner Dance on 7th. November.
Tuesday being the first Fowey Regatta race dawned with a fresh north west wind. Although offshore was kicking up a nasty sea outside the harbour entrance. The conditions saw Winnie, Victory and Stella not competing. This only left five boats to battle it out in conditions which moderated as the day went on.This race was a handicap event and it was Meloris who came in first after just after two hours to take all the honours on the line and on handicap. Sixteen minutes later Grace finished two and a half minutes ahead of Florence. But, it was Juanita, the only C Class boat who was fourth on the line, who gained a second on handicap, exceptional sailing considering the conditions. Prize giving in the evening was at The Royal Fowey Yacht Club.
Wednesday conditions were much better and seven boats lined up. The only one missing was Stella again. As per the day before, after only one hour and eighteen minutes it was Meloris covering herself on Glory on the line and on handicap. Grace was five and a half minutes behind with Victory and Florence neck and neck behind, All very close racing. But again it was Juanita finishing fifth who came second on handicap. Prize giving was again held in the wonderful surroundings of The Royal Fowey.
Thursday was the Infamous Harbour Race where no handicaps are applied and the race is started up river off the Fowey Gallants, down towards the harbour entrance to a Portland buoy, back up river to a Portland buoy off the Gallants, three rounds finishing on the Royal Fowey Yacht Club line, The wind in the river is totally unpredictable especially when it is across the river. This meant boats kept changing places with some boats totally becalmed and others hard pressed. Sometimes alongside each other on opposite tacks. This gave all the spectators on the shore a very interesting spectacle with lots of chatter who would come out on top.
In the end it was Sam Heard in the magnificent Meloris who held his nerve with Victory snapping at his heels, sailing across the line to cheers from the shoreline. This rounded off Sam’s week as top boat this year in Fowey. That evening everyone gathered at The Fowey Gallants Sailing Club to enjoy their hospitality and the final Prize giving.
Friday morning the wind was moderate and set in the north giving a good reach home to Falmouth. With no racing on the Saturday a week to recover and prepare for Portscatho Regatta the following Saturday.
Thanks goes to the boat Sponsors: Haverner’s, Pintxo, The Galleon, The Ship Inn, The Royal Fowey Yacht Club, The Russell Inn, Fowey Gallants Sailing Club, The Lugger Fowey and Bufala.
Special thanks to ‘Nellie’ the guard boat, Fowey Harbour Master and wonderful Team, RFYC, and Paula and crew at The Gallants S.C.