If ever a day indicated staying at home and getting into the sport on television it was Sunday, writes Ian Symonds of Restronguet Sailing Club. 

A catastrophic weather warning was in place and so it was as by late morning we were awash at the club. The rain was biblical plague style or even tropical; if we achieved the 70mm in one hour that was forecast this would have been a black rainstorm flag in most places.

Out on Oyster just off the club we could barely see the “Tomini Norte’ that was anchored across part of Carrick Roads. Behind us Loe Beach was shrouded and lost to view.

Race Officer Chris White had pre-empted most of this and had his crew on board around an hour early. We laid the circular course for the pursuit; this is simply that the starts are based on handicap. Slowest boats go first and at pre-determined intervals boats start according to their handicap.

As the rain finally eased and cracks appeared in the heavy grey ceiling the wind dropped to nothing. Amazingly exactly as forecast it lifted again to bordering on ten from the east.

The signals went up and radio messages flashed back to shore control and the fleets started leaving the beach almost in sun.

On time at 1400hours the Mirrors left for two laps. Then at intervals the boats left for one and a half hours continuous pursuit.

The theory of the handicaps is that over the race the fastest boats should catch up and in a perfect world all the boats cross the finish in roughly equal time. Of course, this is impossible but the fastest Musto Skiff was a few boat lengths off getting back to first place.

Four Mirrors had quite the battle, but the skills and experience of Huw Beverley-Jones with guest crew Emma Sellwood took the honours. Twenty boats from the faster fleets tackled the main race with one guest Musto Skiff, sail number 131, down to practice for next weekend Nationals.

Commodore’s Best Boat, that is the winner, was RS200 sail number 1621 Henry Hallam and Ashley Hill. Seconds behind and so close to a full unlapping was George Cousins in Musto Skiff sail number 605.

In fairness most crews made up some places, the racing was completed in sunshine, decent wind and on time. Most definitely the proverbial grey cloud with a silver lining.