Never in living memory has there been a Falmouth Sailing Week like it. Seven days of extraordinarily light and variable winds, at best, provided extremely frustrating conditions for competitors and race management teams alike.
As usual there was racing scheduled for Falmouth Bay and the Carrick Roads but the conditions were particularly bad in the Bay where the lack of wind combined with a lollopy sea to make racing impossible for almost all classes on the last three days when a nine-race series was scheduled.
There were, however, seven standalone races – including the Ancasta Champagne race - on the first four days.
In IRC Class 1, five of these were won by Jamie Shelton’s Melges 32, Billy Whizz with Greg Peck’s Rocket 36 Camp Freddie taking the other two; In IRC 2 the spoils were mainly shared between John Allen’s X-302 Antix and Robbie Tregear’s Half Tonner Per Elisa, with Miranda Lindsay-Fynn’s J70 Spitfire winning one race; Robin Edwards’ GK34 Firebird of St Helier would have completely dominated YTC Class E, but for one second place to Andrew Boyce’s Dehler 35 Midnight; Toby Claridge’s Sadler 34 Excelle, Neil Chamberlain’s Hanse 301 Tai Mo Shan and Christopher Bell’s Sadler 34 Hawk all won races in YTC Class Q; and in YTC Class U the spoils were shared by Des Teale’s Contessa 26 Hera and Daisy Miller.
The Firebirds were the only class for which it was possible to hold a race on any of the last three days, with Peter Stephens’ Ultraviolet ending up with three wins during the week.
While it was possible to start races for all classes on every day in the Carrick Roads, most courses had to be shortened and there were many retirements and expired time limits. Series victories went to Ralph Singleton’s RS800 and Simon Loveridge’s Aero in the two dinghy classes, to Edwin Hannant’s Dragon Gandalf in the YTC handicap class, to Arty Williams’ Falmouth Working Boat Winnie, to David Liddington’s Rustler 24 Mistress, to the St Mawes One Design Choochky, to Andy Platt’s Scallywag in the Falmouth Gaffers class, to Christopher Fuller’s Shrimper Sophie, to Martin Evans’ Sunbeam Joy, and to Paul Scullion’s Ajax Artemis. In the standalone Mainbrace Rum Race on Wednesday there were class wins for the Mirror Blyskawica, the Achilles 24 Hotfoot, the Shrimper Jackdaw, the Falmouth Working Boat Grace, the Sunbeam Racy Lady, the Ajax Polythemus, and the Falmouth Gaffer Tom Tit.
Many thanks to our sponsors: Mylor Yacht Harbour, Hine Down Solicitors, Falmouth Black Rock Gin, Mainbrace Rum, Flip flop Shop, Mylor Chandlery and Rigging, Paul Gibbins Photography, Falmouth Town Council, Falmouth Haven and Pasco’s Boatyard, for their continued support.
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