PlymFalFowey06

RWYC PLYMOUTH-FALMOUTH-FOWEY RACE 2006

We hope to have a little movie to play you in the fullness of time. In the meantime there is a race report by Simon and we hope you like the pictures - there are more in our summer 06 newsletter.

The race was more of a cruise this year, for the Paradox crew at least. Six people on board, pottering along the coast, and they still had two 1sts and a 3rd (adjusted to a win on handicap). Our thanks to the Royal Western Yacht Club for organising the jaunt.

It's always more fun in a Dazcat.

Royal Western Yacht Club/Bettisons Plymouth-Falmouth-Fowey Races
Race Report by Simon Baker

29th April, Plymouth to Falmouth, distance 36 miles
54 boats took part, including 5 multihulls

The start in Plymouth Sound took the boats on a ¾ mile beat to Malampas Buoy. Backlash 2 made a good start but started to fall away up the beat, Adonnante was sailing high and fast with her new Aussi sails. It wasn’t till more than halfway to the mark that Paradox got into her stride with the freshening breeze.

Having to sail high to clear the PY monohull fleet, Paradox rounded first followed by Adonnante, Wideawake, Backlash and Pas de Deux. A beam reach down to Penlee Point saw the multis rolling over the top of the monohulls; Paradox had her new screecher up and was travelling at up to 15 knots.

At Penlee it was kites down for the 36 mile reach to St Antony’s Head. The clean air of Whitsand Bay allowed the boat to get a little bit of a wriggle on and say good bye to the fastest mono – a new Melges 32. As usual in this race, someone did not read the race officers’ flags for whether there was a shortened course or not. This year it was Backlash’s turn, so off they went to Fowey Number 5 buoy, past the Eddystone.

Paradox was sailing six up and was pulling reefs in and shacking them out all the way to Falmouth. The girls on board – Tracey, Deb and Clare – wished that they had put more than just a casual jacket on; it definitely rated as one of the wettest sails we have had on Paradox.

St Antony’s Head came up very soon; a quick harden up and one tack and Paradox crossed the line between Black Rock and Pendennis Castle at 12.02.

While we relaxed in the sun at Pendennis Marina the inshore and offshore lifeboats were both watched scurrying off. Mark from Pendennis told us that a catamaran had gone over – Backlash had turned over in the gusty conditions off St Antony’s Head and had to retire from the rest of the races. Meanwhile Pas de Deux had got a rope wrapped around her rudder off the Head and had to retire from that leg.

Sunday 30 April, Falmouth to Fowey, distance 20 miles
49 monos, off before the multis again

Another perfect day dawned. Start line Black Rock to Pendennis Castle.This time Paradox got off the blocks first, setting her screecher, and this time the mono fleet were much more spread out, so weaving though them was the only option; Pas de Deux had to ride over the top of 40' monos trying to luff. The remaining four multis all battled with gybing round Helston Buoy, screechers up with full kites, and the next worry was to get past the Dobman, which brought increasing wind and a change of sail back to the screecher. We galloped along at 19 knots past Mevagissey towards Fowey.

The entrance to Fowey has its own personal weather micro-climate and with no other boats to watch Paradox approached with caution, but it turned out to be one of the easier passages up to the finish line, opposite the Royal Fowey Yacht Club where Alex and Sophie from Dazcat were waiting to watch us go by.

Monday 1st May, Fowey to Plymouth, distance 20 miles

Forecast Force 6 west sou’west and rain. Actual weather was only Force 4 and more sun – shame??

Once again the multis were last off. Just before our start, the leading monos looking hard pressed, Paradox changed to screecher and we were off – that is everybody except Paradox. Adonnante took the lead until Wideawake got her kite up and overtook, with Pas de Deux right on the heels of them both. Paradox finally dropped the screecher and hoisted the kite, and fifteen minutes later we got back into the lead. Polperro soon went by, then Looe Island, with a quick wave to Harvey Bowden in case he was home. The whole fleet were flying along the coast, Rame Head on the nose and Whitsand Bay to port.

We dropped kite at Penlee Point, hardening up three miles from the finish at the Royal Western Yacht Club, Queen Anne’s Battery Marina. As we fetched up to the Hoe great gusts were coming down the Tamar. Pas de Deux dropped her kite at Penlee, only for the breeze to come further aft; if she had held on maybe 2nd place could have been hers.

Paradox was first across the line once again, but it was close, with Adonnante and Pas de Deux only minutes behind.

Another great weekend of racing and social entertainment. Hopefully we’ll see more of you taking part next year.

For a full table of results go to the MOCRA website via the Contacts button at the top of this page.