Dazcat 11150 Drama Queen won the MOCRA class in her maiden race, the Plymouth - Falmouth - Fowey race organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club. Her crew comprised Simon and Matt Baker, and two students; Will Holt and Jim Lewis. Below is their race report ...

Drama Queen Day 1. Plymouth – Falmouth

The début event for Drama Queen, a Dazcat 1150 still fresh from the launch party only a month earlier. The 12m cruiser/racer catamaran set out for the start line just off the breakwater in the Plymouth Sound, one amongst 59 boats preparing for the 9.20am start, with bleak and unpromising conditions of thick fog and water still as a mill pond. Fortuitously the fog lifted as the start neared, bringing light and changeable conditions and a cloudless sky. The forecast was for light N swinging SW later in the morning; this was to prove to be a tricky leg due to the constantly changing conditions.

Over the line perfectly on the gun, with the kite flying, Drama Queen got a good start but was quickly overtaken by Trinnian. The first leg to Falmouth looked like it was going to be a downwind run; hitting the line on port the fleet moved out into the lightly rolling sea. Minutes after the final start the breeze swung through 180° and appeared around the Rame Head Peninsula, which led to some deep tactical debates, pork pies, a cup of tea and three sail changes before the course was chosen. The tide was pushing into Whitsands Bay and flowing against Drama Queen, but this was where the breeze was lying so Drama Queen headed into the Bay to maximise the tidal advantage. This choice paid off – as Trinnian proved by heading out to sea and parking up in the dead patch – and the pursuit of the leading monohulls could begin. A fresh breeze was filling in from the south west and the front runners could be seen heeling at greater angles; promising for the many boats stuck in the shifting patches just off Rame Head.

The light winds meant Drama Queen was playing more into her cruising side, with a 4-5 knot average in the 6 knots of breeze, but the motion was in the right direction and slowly the stream of monohulls rolled past the stern. Backlash II and Trinnian were closer to the shore, but not far away, and disappearing into the following fog. By the afternoon, the fog was clearing and the wind began to build from the south west, bringing with it chilly, shifting gusts. The 40ft trimaran Pandemonium was now 1 mile to weather of Drama Queen, with Backlash II and Trinnian out of sight. Pandemonium corner bashed to the extreme and headed a few miles out to sea to make Falmouth on three tacks, but seemed to overshoot the finish line and had to bear away a few degrees to make it. Drama Queen stuck to the coast and headed right into Dodman Point hoping for a lift off the tide which appeared to be slack.

By the time Antony’s Head was in sight only the fastest monohulls and Pandemonium were ahead. Squeaking through the Black Rock finish line after exactly 8 hours of racing, 15 minutes behind Pandemonium, Drama Queen had completed her début into racing and, unbeknownst to her crew, had also secured her first top step podium finish, with a lead of 45 minutes after corrected time.

After mooring in the marina the crew took full advantage of the wonderful weather with a trip to Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for the results, then on to the public houses of Falmouth to enjoy the odd celebratory beverage, and then headlong into the groggy morning that followed.


Day 2. Falmouth – Fowey

Blurry eyes were standard in the morning, but at least it was obvious that Sunday was going to be more exciting. 20 knots of breeze roused the crew, who woke to the sound of whistling masts and last night's kebab trays whipping round the cockpit, and the smell of a full breakfast being cooked in the galley. The Drama Queen boys sat back in the luxury surroundings of the saloon and enjoyed the preparations for the day ahead.

It was apparent from the boats on the start line that today’s competition had bought their game to the table, especially the speedy Firebirds, barely visible through the spray ball that shrouded the lower half of the rigs. Another good start for Drama Queen, with the kite flying for a line smashing start downwind to the Helford River marker before rounding, in a mass of monohulls and Firebirds, and heading up towards Fowey on a tight 2-sail reach.

The windward board came up, the sails cranked and Drama Queen built momentum, surging through the gust and showing she had legs. Hangovers were forgotten as Drama Queen's crew pushed her as hard as they dared, screaming past the monohulls, often at 18 kns and flying a hull; not bad for a boat with a fully stocked fridge and cockpit garden furniture aboard. The entire multihull fleet was flying; the Pandemonium crew gave a lesson in spectacular sailing as they shot past everyone in clouds of spray at over 20 kns, and the Firebirds made it look easy, even with reefs in.

By Dodman Point only the Class 40 mono was ahead and only by yards. She too was soon dispatched. It was an impressive dash into Fowey, with Trinnian catching up fast, only soured by a frustrating entry to the river mouth, with unpredictable winds in the tight, high-sided river mouth costing us the vital 1 minute 10 seconds that would have clinched another first place. We had to make do with coming second.

The Falmouth Firebirds returned home after completing the leg, again flying along in roils of spray.

Moored on the floating pontoons, the crews took full advantage of the sun and socialised to a respectable level, followed by the standard afternoon nap, then onto the Royal Fowey Yacht Club for prize giving.


Day 3. Fowey – Plymouth

The morning looked promising, with a strong breeze and another cooked breakfast to gird our loins, but as the start got closer the breeze dropped off to a disappointing strength that meant it was going to be a close, tense race, with everything to play for. Pandemonium was disadvantaged with the lack of kite; this time it was the turn of Backlash II to lay down the gauntlet.

Another great start saw Drama Queen lead the multihulls out, despite the local sailing club using the pin end as a course marker in the final minute, and soon it was a game of cat and mouse, crossing in and out of the tug and tow that was running at the same speed through the middle of the fleet, effectively pinning everyone to the coast. Drama Queen got good speed and crossed very close in front of the tug, allowing us to head out to sea. Backlash II took a much deeper course and a more direct route to Plymouth, worrying the crew of Drama Queen. Trinnian made a few comebacks before dropping behind, leaving the battle to Backlash II and Drama Queen, who rigged a makeshift barber hauler for the kite to gain more depth downwind.

Squirming through the 15 knot breeze, the distance between the multihulls fluctuated and it really wasn’t over until the finish line, with anxiety apparent onboard Drama Queen as her crew lived up to their boat’s name, timing the difference between DQ and Backlash to check the lead was enough. The klaxon sounded at the line and we knew it had been close.

Drama Queen took the second win of the event, giving us 4 points overall and the event; a successful first outing for the racer/cruiser.

See you next year on the start line...

Will and Jim