PYC 2018 Yacht Haven Friday Evening Series 1 Race 4 11th May 2018

The sky was clear and the sun was trying hard to come out from behind the clouds.  The wind mainly from the west was very light and the neap ebbing tide was just 2 hours after High Water and we had a flat glasslike sea.  Problems indeed for the Race Officer for the evening, Paddy O’Connor.

Paddy decided to set course No.13 for the faster A Fleet of nine yachts and a shorter course, No. 14, for the six boats of the B Fleet.

The first group of the A Fleet would start with a beat from West Mallard over to St. Nicholas then a spinnaker run out to F Buoy before beating across to New Ground and then reaching back down to South Mallard ready to start a second lap from West Mallard again to St. Nicholas but this time running to Dunstone Rock and a further beat over to Melampus before coming home through the Mallards.

They started well on time with Aquaessence ahead followed by Mischief, Joyride and Soundbite in close order.  These four led all the way out to F Buoy in the same order but changes took place on the beat over to New Ground with Ashley Crawford in Mischief stealing ahead as they reached the buoy. Changes took place on the reach down to the Mallards with Sean Koehler’s Joyride turning on to the second lap in the lead.

Whilst all this was proceeding quietly the B Fleet had started on their shorter course. They also had to beat over to St. Nicholas for the first leg but would then run over to Dunstone Rock and beat back to Melampus before coming home through the Mallards.

Janie Smallridge led them out in Duchess with Terry Cross in Larrikin second and Plymouth Yacht Haven, sailed by Mark Prue next.  This Fleet were to have a second shorter lap using North West Winter, Dunstone Rock and Melampus before the finish at West Mallard.

The A Fleet was eventually led home by Mischief just ahead of Aquaessence with Joyride third.

The B Fleet led in by Duchess with Larrikin second, just ahead of Mark Prue in his smaller boat.

Racing may have been gentle and time consuming over the laps used but all boats sailed well and all finished in good time well within the time limit.  The courses set proved excellent for both groups and in lovely sunshine after a dull start it turned out to be a fine evening of racing.

Results

A Fleet. IRC.              1st Mischief, Ashley Crawford.             2nd Aquaessence, Team Aqua.         3rd Joyride, Sean Koehler.

ORC.            1st Soundbite, Robin Butterworth.        2nd Marks and, Hugh Spencer.

NHC.            1st Maverick, Team Maverick.               2nd Jos of Avon, Mike Nuttall.           3rd Soundbite, Robin Butterworth.

B Fleet.  NHC.            1stDuchess, Janie Smallridge.                2nd Larrikin, Terry Cross.                   3rd Plymouth Yacht Haven, Mark Prue.