Classes 2 & 3 had originally been
due to race to Cherbourg on Friday 28th
and Cherbourg
to St Vaast on the 29th to meet up with Class 1 who were racing
to St Vaast direct on the 29th. Strong winds forecast for the
Channel for 28th led to a postponement for a day and an
amendment, so the whole fleet raced to St Vaast starting at 0600 – 0610 on
the 29th. The original class 2 & 3 races were in the
sailing instructions to ensure the smaller boats could make it into St
Vaast gates before they closed at 19.00 BST, which a long channel race
might not allow.There was
therefore some concern as to whether the smaller boats would have to
anchor off until Saturday morning, if they missed the gate.
The postponement proved a wise
decision as Channel and Greenwich Lights both recorded 43mph on the
Friday! So it was the larger fleet of about 20 boats who straggled to the
Swash starting line on a fine morning, with not all making their start on
time! Firestarter was start boat but had mislaid her liferaft and much
radio traffic sought to ensure a Class 1 alternative boat with a timepiece
available could run all 3 starts! Eventually Firestarter did find a
liferaft and had the unique distinction of conducting a radio signaled
start from 2 miles away inside PooleHarbour as she was
motoring to join the fleet for a late start!
A cracking WNW 4-5 gave an
exhilarating spinnaker race all the way for those able to hang on to the
tiller! A W swell from the previous day’s gales added to the fun, yawing
under boats quarters.
The first boats finished in 8hours 55
minutes with the whole fleet arriving within 11 hours as fears of
anchoring out were dispelled. Tired crews recovered, with the more exuberant
ending the Saturday evening dancing on the Captain of PYRA’s decks!
Sunday was a quiet day with the 6pm
rendezvous in the restaurant/bar on the St Vaast outer wall being
generously hosted by Coleman Insurance & Vinyl Solutions.
6. Bank Holiday Monday dawned as the fishing fleet
put to sea from St Vaast and the PYRA fleet soon followed the bright dawn with
an impressive 7am start. Spinnakers were flown to Barfleur and as the wind died
the boats slowed to a crawl as the last of the night cloud cleared to a brilliant
sunny day.By 10 a majority of the fleet
had retired and was motoring home. However engines proveda little troublesome for Ruthless & Athene
with trips to Cherbourg
for bearings and a tow required!
