PYC 2018 Long Distance Race Report 2nd-3rd June 2018

Plymouth to Fowey Race  Saturday 2nd June 2018

This weekend brought the long awaited Long Distance races to Fowey on the Saturday with the return race back to Plymouth on Sunday. Always a very popular weekend of racing, jointly run by The Saltash Sailing Club for the Saturday race down to Fowey with the Plym Yacht Club running the return race to Plymouth after a delightful evening spent with the Fowey Yacht Club acting as always genial hosts.

22 yachts were taking advantage of racing in two main classes, 11 in the IRC class and 11 in the Port Handicap class, of which 3 would be separately recorded as two handed.

The IRC Fleet started on time at 1105 hrs and were well away when the Port Handicap fleet started 5 minutes later.  The wind was light before the start and coming from almost due South, tending to fill in just in time to allow the boats to beat out on Port Tack. All boats were able to lay Penlee Point on the same tack but as they rounded the headland the wind allowed them to free sails somewhat and then even further as they passed Rame Head.  A shy kite run at times but even so it became a single tack race until they approached the entrance to Fowey where a good sized Dinghy Fleet, racing in Fowey harbour, made for considerable interest.  The wind throughout varied between 8 to 18 kts, just to add interest for the sailors.

Results for this downward leg were as follows.

IRC                       1st Al Fresco, A.J. Meredith       . 2nd Elusive, Neil Trathen.        3rd Muscox, Neville Davenport    .4th Sir Duckton, Roy Morgan.

Port Handicap.  1st Bernoulli, Samuel Marshall.   2nd Sir Jasper, Bob Suggett.     3rd Maverick, Team Maverick.     4th Jos of Avon,Mike Nuttall.

2 Handed.           1st Moonfish, Mark Hanley.        2nd Poppin, Tim Burne.             3rd Andiamo ll, Paul Richardson.

Fowey to Plymouth Race  Sunday 3rd June 2018

The start of the races back to Plymouth started somewhat earlier on the Sunday with the IRC Fleet away at 10.30 and the Port Handicap group again 5 minutes later.

The wind for the return journey was very variable and almost directly from South East but backing occasionally more to the East.  This with an adverse tidal stream meant a long and difficult sail back along the coast.

8 IRC Yachts made the start in dry and sunny conditions but from the start tacking against the wind and tide made for a fairly slow pace and with spells of very light wind not all the boats were able to make the return.  Rounding Rame Head and along to Penlee Point, choppy seas and loss of wind proved very trying. Once round Penlee Point however a starboard tack took the boats back home for a sunny finish.

The Port Handicap Boats being smaller and slower suffered more from the conditions and many were unable to complete with 8 boats retiring before the finish. A great shame but at least the sun did shine and all came home in good spirits after such a happy weekend.

Results for the return race as follows.

IRC                          1st Al Fresco, A J Meredith.      2nd Muscox, Neville Davenport.      3rd Xtortion 8 Dave Oliver.      4th Elusive, Neil trathen.

Port Handicap.      1st Sir Jasper, Bob Suggett.      2nd Maverick, Team Maverick. Only finishers.

2 Handed.              1st Moonfish Mark Hanley.  Only finisher